Category Archives: Brain Injury
June 14, 2017
Getting Back to Your Life after a Concussion
Whack! You’ve had a sudden knock to the head and suddenly you find yourself in pain and in a fog. A trip to the emergency room and a few doctor visits later and it’s confirmed: you have a concussion or a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Whether you got it playing a contact sport, whiplash…
April 11, 2017
Helping Kids Recover from Sports Concussions
You’re in the stands cheering on your kid as he or she is playing their favourite sport, when suddenly, they take a hard hit to the head. You panic, rush to the sidelines, and make sure they are alright. Checking for signs of a possible concussion, you and the coach agree to remove your child…
January 20, 2017
3 Recent Concussion Breakthroughs
Concussions are mysterious to many of us but medical science is getting better at understanding how to test, treat, and aid recovery from them. Here are three recent breakthroughs you should know about – two of them from right here in Canada. New blood test for concussions A Canadian team of researchers have made a…
December 2, 2016
One Concussion Is Too Many
All it takes is one blow to the head and your life can be changed forever. Concussions are becoming all too common, especially among young people. And new research is showing that the consequences of just one concussion can have long-term effects on your mental, intellectual, and physical abilities. Scientists from universities in the US,…
June 16, 2016
Ontario Introduces “Rowan’s Law”
Rowan Stringer was a 17-year-old Ottawa girl described as bright, energetic, and curious. She was equally passionate about rugby. But something happened to Rowan on the playing field that should never happen to any kid. In 2013, she sustained a series of concussions and died as a result of her brain injuries. It’s a devastating…
June 2, 2016
Championing Brain Injury Awareness
Five years ago, a young hockey player at the top of his game sustained a couple of heavy blows to his head. The resulting concussion was devastating – sidelining his career and putting his health in serious jeopardy. With June being Brain Injury Awareness Month across Canada, we immediately think of this man’s accomplishments and…
May 12, 2016
Neurologist Tackles NFL Brain Injuries
There’s no denying that the NFL has a serious issue with concussions. After years of trying to sweep it under the rug, they’ve since come around to establishing procedures for dealing with concussed players. But what about the NHL? Is the group that governs the professional league of Canada’s most loved sport playing in the…
March 16, 2016
New Brain Scanning Technique for Detecting Concussions
A new brain scanning technique developed at UBC can show how concussions damage the brain. These findings question the effectiveness of the tools doctors currently use when assessing and treating concussions. To test this technique, researchers scanned the brains of male and female UBC hockey players before the start of the season. Multiple scans were…
March 14, 2016
Do Bike Helmets Prevent Concussions?
It's a beautiful day in Vancouver and you're cycling around the seawall. Without warning, a cyclist riding in front of you abruptly stops resulting in you taking a nasty spill. Will your bike helmet prevent a concussion? Dr. Cirelle Rosenblatt, clinical director with Advanced Concussion Clinic in Vancouver, said “When you’re an unprotected cyclist, whether…
March 14, 2016
NFL Players Unaware of Concussion Risks
Will young football players dream of playing for the NFL after they learn about the deadly concussion risks? Alternatively, will parents let their children play football after they learn 87 out of 91 former NFL players tested positive for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)? NFL players were unaware of concussion dangers until approximately five years ago…
