March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and we will be taking a closer look at brain injuries all month long, beginning with advances in preventing and treating 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. To stave off concussions, organized sports have examined, amended, and reamended the rules of the games every year. Enforcement of the laws and regulations of various sports have become more rigid and the stats show that the changes do help. Advancements in gear are 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 covering the helmet and changing color when it’s hit. A new mouthguard design lights up when the wearer is hit hard enough to sustain a concussion. At the same time, another company has applied similar technology to an indicator worn behind the ear. Each of these approaches to concussions contributes to the 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 is essential. Answering the call of patients 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 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, correctly 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, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at the Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center today.