Tag Archives: concussion

This common gesture could be a sign of a concussion

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A quick shake of the head after a hard hit could signal that a person has a concussion, a new study suggests, based on the experiences of young athletes.

It’s an easily recognizable movement that could help significantly reduce the number of concussions that go undiagnosed if added to official evaluation guidelines, according to researchers from Mass General Brigham and the Concussion Legacy Foundation.

“We describe it in detail as a time that after a hit to the head, someone laterally shakes their head at a speed between two and eight Hertz. But that’s complicated medical terminology for something we’ve all seen,” said Dr. Dan Daneshvar, a study co-author and co-chair of sports concussion at Mass General Brigham.

Cartoons often depict a circle of birds that fly away after the character shakes their head, for example.

“There’s such a strong lay understanding of this being associated with concussions,” he said, but it’s not included in guidelines or medical literature.

Specialized MRI reveals impact of soccer heading on brain

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The researchers wanted to study the association of soccer heading over two years with change in brain microstructure and cognitive performance in adult amateur players. They used DTI, an MRI technique that characterizes the microstructure of the brain by tracking the microscopic movement of water molecules through brain tissue.

In her talk, Molly Charney, MD, from New York-Presbyterian Hospital presented research showing that the normally sharp gray matter-white matter interface seen on imaging was blunted in proportion to high repetitive head impact exposure.

Researchers used diffusion tensor imaging, an MRI technique, to study the impact of soccer heading on the brain. This method tracks the microscopic movement of water molecules through brain tissue to characterize the brain’s microstructure. Image and caption courtesy of the RSNA.

https://www.auntminnie.com/resources/conference/rsna/2023/article/15658667/dtimri-reveals-impact-of-soccer-heading-on-brain

That Concussion Can Have Lasting and Serious Effects

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CNMRI Neurologists can help you with symptoms from a concussion or traumatic brain injury. Please contact our office for a definitive evaluation and treatment.

“Concussions occur when someone experiences a bump, blow or jolt to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth. Concussions themselves are not usually life-threatening but the effects can be lasting and serious, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. 

For 50% of traumatic brain injury patients who received a CT scan, three or more symptoms, such as headache or fatigue, persist for at least a year, according to a study in the Journal of Neurotrauma last year. More than 70% reported at least one persistent symptom a year after injury. This can be patients with mild, moderate or severe brain injury — a concussion is usually considered mild.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-10-18/what-is-a-concussion-symptoms-treatment-effects-on-brain-long-term

https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/concussion_whatis.html#:~:text=Is%20a%20Concussion%3F-,What%20Is%20a%20Concussion%3F,move%20rapidly%20back%20and%20forth.