Hey Mark,

I don't know much about the laws of physics, all I've done is read from different sources that building neck strength will reduce the chances of concussions.


When you type in "neck strength concussions" in Google, there are other sources as well that say neck strengthening will help absorb some of the impact.

i have had 2 concussions that left me unconcious and a third one that didn't leave me unconcious but left me with post concussion syndrome. I got kneed in the jaw by my friend the last time, we were playing around and I didn't think anything of it. Next day, I woke up and had the worst headache, If I sat in a car and we went over a small bump my head hurt. For 3 weeks I didn't sit in a car because every small little bump caused my brain pain. I didn't lift weights for two months because I was having anxiety. After the 2 months, I slowly started getting better to a point where I could lift weights. Its been about 4-5 months now but i'm about 95% healed. The only problem I'm having now is anxiety and twitches. I constantly worry about the head twitching cause I'm scared I'm having small seizures(could someone tell me why I'm twitching?)

I couldn't have healed as rapidly as I have if it were not for my diet. Everytime I take fish oil, drink DHA milk or eat blueberries, the affected part of my brain feels as if it's healing.

As far as creatine...

just type in "creatine neuroprotective" in Google.

I remember reading a study saying that they gave creatine to rats after they had already sustained concussions and the ones that were given creatine healed better.

hey amazinggrace,
after a concussion, there's a sequence of metabolic cascades that involve potassium leaking from cells and calcium influx into cells. however calcium is harmful to cellular metabolism in the mitochondria (cellular metabolism being responsible for ATP production). since creatine is a synthetic variant of ATP, it would make sense for creatine to provide energy for brain cells that are actively repairing. however, i'm not sure any neurologist would recommend this due to the load that creatine places on the kidneys.

I haven't found anything in particular that helps (except Advil...which of course I can't take too often) But I guess the thing I do is just listen to my body. If I am craving this I eat it, even if I do not need it for that summer beach body If I need to go on a walk, if I need to sleep, if I need to take a break, if I need to explode (my pillow has become much smaller from the beatings)

Mark lay off a little, let people share without being picky about the details, if it works it works even if you believe the science isn't there to back it up. We are grasping for straws, don't take those away. We have all had to many docs and such tell us the scientific "You're OK" or the "You don't have PCS just..." Let us have our straws. I don't mean this in a critical or mean way, I am just trying to let this thread be what it was meant to be...a sharing of helps.

God Bless!
Margarite

I think my most recent setback could have been mitigated by greater neck strength and body bulk - I was charged into from behind and there was no contact with my head but I got a sort of minor whiplash from the impact (unfortunately the effects haven't been minor). If my neck and body were stronger I think less of that energy would have been transferred to my head.

On the other hand I can see it working the opposite way - if you are bigger and have a stronger neck it might stop your body from moving with the head if it gets banged, thus letting your brain impact on the inside of the skull.

I was having a chat with the brother of a guy who's done a lot of research on concussion in amateur boxing (including at olympic level). The main focus of his findings are that a headguard makes concussion more rather than less likely since it supports the neck and stops the head from moving when it is struck, leading to the brain impacting on the inside of the skull with more force. Apparently he's fighting a losing battle in trying to get rid of headguards.

All I've learned that is helping me is to respect my symptoms, and to take it easy even when they seem to have gone away - my first setback came from a symptom-free week after which I felt safe to get drunk - BIG mistake. I'm trying to do nutrition and all that but can't really tell if it's helping. Rest and activity which doesn't bring symptoms on definitely does help though, just not as fast as I'd like.

My symptoms are telling me to get off this puter now - bye and good luck!

Tons of physical and mental rest (gauge how much you think you need, then add even more)

Good nutrition every day (at every meal if possible)

Lots of water

Supplements: fish oil from reputable manufacturer (possibly in a high dose), good multivitamin (with strong B component), vitamin D3

Dark, quiet room to recover in

Minimal stimulation (TV, reading, internet, email, conversations, noise, chaotic environment, etc)

Large support network (family, friends, knowledgable health professionals), to the extent this is feasible - ask for help if others are receptive and willing to provide it

Light activity / exercise only if it doesn't trigger symptoms

Don't skip meals

Practice meditation or listen to music - or find some other way to relax and de-stress, even for 5-10 mins at a time

Minimize stress, to the extent this is possible

Take lots of naps, even short non-sleeping ones

Read relevant sections in Brainlash, Coping with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Mindstorms, or other credible sources for additional knowledge and support

Patience

klaus why would a headguard lead to an increase in concussions if it stops the head from moving when its struck? if the head doesn't move when its struck, then the brain won't move either.

Wearing a headguard in boxing won't stop your head from moving at all when struck, your head will still jerk back if you get hit with a good punch, obviously.

The theory apparently is that since the headguards they use offer some sort of support to the neck, they slow the head's movement down more quickly after the initial jerk. Whilst the skull's movement suddenly stops, the brain keeps moving and crashes into the inside of it, like a person not wearing their seatbelt carries on moving into the dashboard during a car crash.

If the person is not wearing a headguard, the skull slows down at more like the same speed as the brain, thus causing less of an impact of the brain onto the inside of the skull.

What we really need is a headguard that can fit in between the brain and the skull!

So it would seem from my understanding that if any of us sorry lot are planning to enter a boxing match we should not wear a headguard, lol

I do also take 2000 units of Vitamin D3, though I took it as a general measure even before my concussion. Is it helpful for concussion in some way?

My concern about the 'neck strengthening" hypothesis is that is can cause a false and dangerous sense of security. I highly respect Dr Robert Cantu. He has been at the forefront of concussion issues for quite some time. He and the others are still researching this "hypothesis."

Unfortunately, Dr Cantu, in his comment "It's just straight physics. If you see the blow coming and you have a very strong neck and contract the neck muscles, you have a much greater chance to have significantly reduced the forces the brain will see." is dead wrong about the physics.

As I said before, When you change how the head and neck absorb or react to the impact, all you have done is change the way the impact force is transmitted into the skull in the aspect of whether a coup contra-coup injury will be caused and the timing of the shock wave. Whether the shock wave differences reduce the injury or increase the injury will be based on a myriad of other factors. The most important factor is whether the helmet has an ability to deform, thus absorbing some of the energy. Otherwise, helmets are most useful at preventing broken skulls, not impacted brains.

I understand the desire and focus on reducing the risk of concussions but neck strengthening is not going to change this risk. The multiple concussions received in contact sports will continue until there is a radical change in how the head is or isn't subjected to impact forces.

A simple way to understand this is with vehicle collisions. In the 60's, cars were built with stout bumpers and frames. They reduced damage to the vehicle but transmitted higher forces to the occupants. The rebounding bumpers of the 70's and 80's absorbed some of the energy but the spring back of the rebound bumpers caused a secondary force against the occupants.

The current crash worthiness technology depends on a progression of collapse of 1st, the body panels, next, the sub-structure, then the frame. All of these structures are "destroyed" as they protect the passenger compartment from the g forces that can be so damaging.

Bicycle helmets use a similar process. The semi-hard foam is broken or deformed thus absorbing the impact forces over a longer period of time.

Force = mass x acceleration. Acceleration is a measure of change in motion over a specific period of time. If the impacting force from the opposing player stays the same, the only thing that can be changed by the impacted player is the amount of time in the acceleration formula.

Contrary to Dr Cantu's claim. The impacted player can diffuse the energy by reacting with a change in his own movement to try to match the impending movement of the impacting force. If he is pulling his head/helmet back as the impacting player is impacting his helmet, the differential at time of impact will be less. This will reduce the injuring forces.

Last example. Lay a piece of glass on a hard flat surface so it can not move at all when impacted. Then hit is with a rigid object. Even though the glass does not move, the shock wave from the impact will still break the glass. If the glass can move just a bit, it will be more likely to just crack. If it is held firm, it will more likely shatter. The difference is just the timing of the impact force and shock wave.

So, get a helmet that absorbs the impact on the outside layer to reduce brain forces.

Soccer players will strengthen their necks for better abilities to head the ball. These players will still suffer the statistical loss of 9 to 10% of their IQ level from heading the ball.

The Law of Physics is call "Conservation of Energy." Energy can neither be lost nor gained. The energy of the impact is just transmitted through the body parts.

'Nuff said.

If having a stronger neck does not help prevent concussions, then how come seat belts reduce the severity of brain injuries?

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