Author Archives: Jacob Masters
The Severe Risk of Sports-Related Brain Injuries
The Consequences of Head Injuries in Sports Certain sports leave players very vulnerable to Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). These are defined as “a blow or jolt to the head, or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain,” and are very common particularly in football, boxing and cycling. In 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated there to have occurred 446,788 sports-related brain injuries in the US, which represented an increase from the year before. The real numbers may be even higher, since many people unfortunately do not go to the hospital following a head injury. Surprisingly, cycling is responsible for the highest proportion of sports-related …
Yoga and its Potential Benefits for Brain Injury
Everyone knows yoga reduces stress, improves sleep and boosts immunity – but what those recovering from a brain injury? Can it help them too? According to loveyourbrain.org, 2.7 million people suffer from brain injuries every year. And if the injury is not debilitating enough, the involved in rehabilitation can be. Yoga has long been a source of therapy for depression, back pain, sciatica and now brain injury. Brain injuries leave most with decreased mobility, rigid muscles, and trouble with balance. The effects of a traumatic brain injury do not end there. Beyond the physical limitations, there are also emotional and mental challenges that are associated with brain injuries. These hurdles …
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month
5.3 million people in the USA are living with some level of brain injury, and 2.5 people suffer a traumatic brain injury each year. These individuals want the same things we all do – a productive life, affection, and to enjoy life. Many people that have diminished cognitive function struggle to reintegrate into the community, and are left feeling isolated and alone. Even close friends may disappear. The injured person may be aware of his or her impairments, and is dealing with personal struggles. Reaching out to these people, understanding their challenges, and helping them to become active participants in the wider community is a duty we can all share. …
What Steps Can You Take to Leading A Normal Life After Brain Injury?
When someone becomes the victim of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), his post-injury abilities and chances for a successful recovery will depend in great part on the severity and location of the injury. That’s because different areas of the brain are responsible for different functions. So, depending on where the brain has been injured, the victim could lose his sense of touch, hearing, ability to focus or balance, and even his personality could drastically change. A brain injury certainly can impact a person’s life in countless ways, but if the more than 3 million people in the United States who are living with a brain injury are any example, life …
How TBI Can Happen in the Workplace
The Brain Injury Institute reports that traumatic brain injury (TBI) happens in the workplace more frequently and easily than you might expect. Even if you work in an office “cubicle” environment, you could trip on the corner of a desk or slip on coffee your coworker spilled and suffer serious brain injury. According to the institute, approximately 20% of all on-the-job TBI occurs from falling on surfaces that are wet or uneven or that contain out-of-place objects. Although motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of TBI, falls are in second place and slowly climbing statistically. This may be due in part to the fact that the number of workers …
Car Shopping? Look for Safety Features to Prevent Head Injury
If you’re shopping for a vehicle, whether new or used, one of your main objectives should be safety and the features that can protect you and your loved one in an accident. Head and brain injuries, and injuries to the neck are some of the most common and serious physical harm sustained by people involved in automobile accidents. Depending on the severity of the traffic collision, you may sustain a mild, moderate, or severe head injury, even if there is no outward sign of damage. Neck injuries can range from whiplash and strains to serious problems such as cervical dislocation. Choosing a vehicle with a full complement of safety features …
Study Examines Age and Brain Injury Risks of Children
A recently reported study may help parents and others to protect their children from head and brain injuries. Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine, University of California-Davis School of Medicine and others conducted the study, “Epidemiology of Blunt Head Trauma in Children in U.S. Emergency Departments.” The researchers reported their findings in the November 2014 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The study examined 43,399 cases of blunt head trauma among children through 17. Based on their findings, the researchers were able to delineate by age what type of accidents were most likely to serve as the cause a child’s head injury. Overall, falls proved to …
TBI and Memory Loss: Coping Strategies
Loss of memory is one of the most common symptoms associated with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), regardless of how the injury occurred. In fact, memory loss is one of the first symptoms to show, and one of the last to return. Fortunately though, if you’ve suffered from memory loss as a result of a traumatic brain injury, there are strategies you can use to successfully manage it. First, however, a distinction should be made between the types of memory, and which is the most problematic after a traumatic brain injury. Types of Memory Our memories work via a system of encoding (processing), storage and recall. The most personal type …
Despite Hardhats, Traumatic Brain Injuries Still Common on Construction Sites
Although hardhats are a fixture in construction work and are intended to keep construction workers safe, they do not always prevent accidents that lead to traumatic brain injury (TBI) on construction sites. TBIs occur when a bump or blow to the head, or a penetrating head injury, causes an injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. A TBI can be mild or severe, with concussions being the most common TBI, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These injuries may resolve over time – or they may affect an injured person for the rest of his or her life. While hardhats provide the best hope of …
Traumatic Brain Injuries Lead to Death and Disability
The suicides of famous NFL players such as Junior Seau and Dave Duerson after years of coping with concussion damage caused by ferocious hits on the football field generate most of the headlines concerning traumatic brain injuries. But the fact is that all Americans, no matter their age, are susceptible to traumatic brain injuries, and such injuries are more common than you might suspect. Traumatic brain injuries contribute to 30 percent of all injury deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 138 Americans die each day from injuries that include TBIs. Bumps, blows or jolts to the head as well as penetrating head injuries that disrupt …
