March is Brain Injury Awareness Month and we will be taking a closer look at brain injuries all month long beginning with advances in the prevention and treatment of concussions. In the 2015 NFL season alone, there were more than 200 diagnosed concussions. The increasing rate of concussions and the ferocity with which they are happening are bringing increased attention to concussions, not only on the football field but around the globe. News stories, class-action lawsuits, and even a movie about the forensic pathologist, Bennet Omalu, who discovered CTE, a progressive degenerative disease found at increasing rates among athletes who have experienced repeated brain trauma, are making headlines and advancing ways in which concussions can be prevented… and treated.
Concussion Prevention
Concussions, the most common type of brain injury, occur at an alarming rate. By some estimates, as many as 3.8 million concussions occur every year just during sports or recreational activities. In an effort to stave off concussions, organized sports have examined, amended and reamended rules of the games every year. Enforcement of the rules and regulations of various sports have become more rigid and the stats are showing that the changes do help. Advancements in gear is making a difference as well. Safety standards among equipment manufacturers, new helmet designs and new approaches to other gear are aimed at decreasing the likelihood of concussions. One proposal includes a film that covers the helmet and changes color when it’s hit. A new mouthguard design lights up when the wearer is hit hard enough to sustain a concussion, while another company has applied similar technology to an indicator that is worn behind the ear. Each of these approaches to concussions contribute to the most important factors when dealing with concussions, prevention and the earliest possible indication that treatment is necessary.
Concussion Treatment
Even with the best equipment, rules and safeguards, concussions do happen. After suffering a concussion, understanding the symptoms and getting treatment quickly are essential. Answering the call of patients who are looking for treatment plans that do not lie in drug therapies or surgeries, Chiropractic neurology provides a safe and drug-free care plan designed to return the patient to their optimal state of well-being in the fastest amount of time. By tapping into the communication between the brain and the nervous system, and the power of neuroplasticity, Chiropractic Neurologists design personalized treatment plans to aid in recovery in an efficient and drug-free manner.
While brain injuries can be difficult to identify and treat, the reality is that brain injuries happen and the need for further study and new avenues to prevent, properly diagnose and treat them are of vital importance. If you are experiencing pain or other symptoms associated with a brain or sports injury and would like to learn how Chiropractic Neurology can help you, please contact the team at the Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center today.