Tua important to overlook.

Football is just around the corner and it’s that time to sit back and watch all our favorite stars compete for the Lombardi trophy! If you’re like me, you probably have done your fair share of investing time into the upcoming fantasy drafts, and if you have, you probably remember how last year’s season was plagued with numerous injuries. Injuries are a part of sports but the severity of them can most definitely vary. The most memorable for me are the ones that aren’t just musculoskeletal, but neurological. A good example is when Tua had his concussion and he displayed unnatural hand positions. While his situation had more to it, concussions themselves are nothing to simply overlook. While they are common in the NFL they’re not confined to only this sport. They can appear in soccer, wrestling, basketball, etc. This being said I want to put some attention on this because they are an important injury not to take lightly. 

     A concussion can be explained as a minor traumatic brain injury, and a brain injury itself is serious. Impact to the brain can result in vision changes, balance difficulties, concentration issues and other challenges. While the severity can vary, the importance of when to address it stays the same: ASAP. The brain is amazing in what it can do as well as how well it can heal, but it’s important to stay on top of it if there’s suspicion of a brain injury. Early intervention has proven to be favorable for the individual and helps with earlier return to sport for athletes. Multiple concussions have been found to be correlated to CTE and making sure to talk to healthcare provider if a loved one has had numerous is very important. As fall sports start to pick back up and you suspect that a loved one might have had a pretty serious brain injury, erring on the side of caution is advantageous because getting them the care they need will be extremely beneficial for their recovery!

Will Kimani PT, DPT