National Athletic Therapy Month - Baby Your Brain

Every June, Athletic Therapists take the time to raise public awareness and educate everyone about the important role that Athletic Therapy has in sports. This year the theme is "Baby Your Brain" where we focus on the role that Athletic Therapists play with Head Injuries.

Athletic Therapists are often the first line of defense in the prevention, identification and management of head injuries in sport.  Your therapist ensures that you have the proper equipment to protect your head and that techniques are learned and executed safely.  They are skilled in the latest protocols in concussion testing.  And if you are unlucky enough to have sustained one, they help you manage it by providing you with advice and guidance.

Following the concussion sustained by Sydney Crosby, there has been much discussion in the media concerning protection of our athletes and proper protocols.  What typically doesn't make the news is how neuroscience is still in its infancy.  There is still much to learn about the brain, its response to injury and how it recovers.  We continue to learn more with the post-mortem analysis of athletes who have sustained multiple concussions and through experience.  Unfortunately current protocols (CAT scans, MRIs, SCAT test, etc) cannot guarantee a 100% accurate diagnosis and different athletes can respond differently to the same return to play procedure.  Your Athletic Therapist acts based on the most recent research, their experience on the bench/sidelines and protocols established by sports organizations.  A therapist considers your future as a person and not just an athlete.  Decisions are made with the best interest of your health in mind.

As an athlete, there are things that you can do to help protect yourself and with your recovery.  Make sure you are practicing your sport safely and wear the appropriate equipment.  Chin straps are often not secured properly.  They should only allow space for 2 fingers between the strap and the chin.  It is recommended that those in high risk sports (like hockey, rugby, football, etc) take a baseline concussion test.  To learn more about baseline concussion testing, ask your Athletic Therapist.  And of course, follow the advice of your Athletic Therapist and doctor if you have sustained a concussion.

Thank you for reading this blog. Please take the time to thank your Athletic Therapist for the hard work that they have done, and the commitment and dedication to your team or rehab.