iPad app tests athletes for concussion - Cleveland Clinic video

An iPad app tests athletes for concussions (a Cleveland Clinic video). The players perform a series of balance, memory, vision, and reaction time experiments to obtain a baseline reading. If they receive a blow to the head during a game or practice, these tests can be redone to determine when it is safe for the athlete to return to action.

References:

Concussion Center - Cleveland Clinic.
Cleveland Clinic Treats Concussions With iPad App. Fox News.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE): Brain bank examines athletes' hard hits - CNN, 2012.

Comments from Twitter:

@DrVes: Why are some doctors and nurses giving back their iPads? http://j.mp/Hq15aD - Easy: iPad works great for pt education, NOT for data entry. Only 10% of doctors currently use an iPad at work http://j.mp/Hq15aD - I use iPad daily to discuss these diagrams: http://j.mp/Hq1k5v

iPad is a great teaching tool @CraigCCRNCEN was able to explain to Vietnamese family AFib and clots by showing them animation from YouTube.

Brian S. McGowan PhD @BrianSMcGowan: so is the best option for docs still a touch screen laptop? teach w/ touch screen, work w/ full keyboard? #hcsm

@DrVes: iPad works well for discussing DDx, Tx options with pts. Much more portable than laptop. Full-keyboard COWs best for typing.

Jeff Bray @jeffkbray: I have been scanning all my medical reference books and store them on my iPad for quick use and no weight - great tool and mobile

Hockey-puck-on-a-rod test checks for concussion after head trauma

From NPR:

The hockey-puck-on-a-rod test was invented by a Michigan high school student.

It works like this: Tester suspends the device while injured athlete sits with forearm on table, fingers loosely circling the stick. Without warning, tester drops stick. Athlete grabs stick as fast as possible. Place where athlete grabs gives an instant readout of reaction time.

It all happens in milliseconds - too fast to measure with a stopwatch. Athletes with concussions had reaction times that were 15% slower.

References:

Teenager's Science Project Leads To Simple Concussion Test. NPR.

Comments:

Nicholas Genes - Neat idea. I like how it's free of stopwatches and all the variability they introduce. But it seems that athletes would need to have a baseline measurement pre-trauma to really compare (maybe they can do it when they're signing waivers at the start of the season...)

Concussion Recovery - Mayo Clinic Video

Mayo Clinic Video: The news has been filled with stories about the dangers of concussions in sports like high school football. Doctors at Mayo Clinic say that pulling kids off the field until they have completely recovered is key to keeping them healthy. But some players who've suffered concussions choose not to get back in the game. They don't want to risk possible consequences of repeat and serious head injury.

Related reading:

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE): Brain bank examines athletes' hard hits - CNN, 2012.

Protecting the brain from concussion: $20-helmet is a good way to protect $100,000 education

Neuropsychologist Kim Gorgens makes the case for better protecting our brains against the risk of concussion -- with a compelling pitch for putting helmets on kids: A $20-helmet is a good way to protect $100,000 education. "Mind your (brain) matter."

Just consider the following tragic story:

Former NFL payer shot himself in chest so that his brain could remain intact for examination for encephalopathy

Before he shot himself fatally in the chest Thursday, the former Chicago Bears defensive back Dave Duerson sent family members text messages requesting that his brain tissue be examined for the same damage recently found in other retired players.

As a longtime force in the N.F.L. players union, Duerson, 50, was keenly aware of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the degenerative brain disease linked to depression, dementia and occasionally suicide among more than a dozen deceased players. He had expressed concern in recent months that he might have had the condition.

“This thing has the whole union community pretty shaken up.”

Related reading:

The protective effects of helmets in skiers and snowboarders - why 15% of neurosurgeons bought helmets right away. BMJ, 2011.

Before Shooting Himself, Duerson Asked That His Brain Be Studied, NYTimes, 2011.

Former NFL payer shot himself in chest so that his brain could remain intact for examination for encephalopathy, NYTimes, 2011.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE): Brain bank examines athletes' hard hits - CNN, 2012.