The woodpecker is best known for its ability to use its beak to smash repeatedly into thick trees. Scientists began to ask, “How do they do this without bodily damage?” and that question may hold the answer to curing sporting TBIs. Julian Bailes, chairman of neurosurgery at NorthShore University HeathSystem is an expert in traumatic brain injuries and concussions. He is taking inspiration from our feathered friends in helping humans in preventing serious brain injuries that can have life-long consequences.

Natural Inspiration

Researchers looked at animals that have repeated hard impacts on their head, woodpeckers and bighorn sheep to help unlock the key to brain protection. After a long study, they determined that both animals prevent injury by adjusting the pressure within their skulls. The woodpecker uses its tongue to wrap around its neck and apply pressure to the jugular, regulating blood pressure. Could we do something similar with our athletes? Possibly!

Human Solutions

In theory, a sports collar could achieve the same pressure-altering ability as the woodpecker’s tongue. By applying pressure to the jugular, it increases blood flow to the brain and slightly cushions your brain from the inside out. Brain injuries occur not only from impact but also the way the brain “sloshes” around in the cerebrospinal fluid. With increasing the amount of fluid, the brain stays more stable. This can reduce the signs of brain damage when impacts occur.

New Products

Q30 Innovations has developed a collar prototype that is currently being tested as a possibly preventative TBI product. Hopefully, the preliminary results are promising so we can better protect our athletes from brain injuries.

For more information on TBIs and prevention, join the TryMunity Community today. We are happy to provide you with the right information and resources to assist you.

January is known as the month of fresh starts, resolutions, and self-improvement. There is nothing better than making a decision to educate yourself on TBI prevention. TryMunity and its close-knit community are notorious for sharing exceptional information and resources for those impacted by traumatic brain injury after it occurs. However, there is a lot to be learned and shared on how to prevent a TBI as well. Here are a few of the biggest ways you can prevent TBI from occurring.

Safe Vehicle Practices

One of the most common causes of traumatic brain injury occurs from car accidents. Always wear your seat belt when you drive or ride in a vehicle. If you have a child, place them in the appropriate car seat or booster seat. It is now recommended that children sit in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible. This provides them with extra head and neck support in the event of an accident.

Wear a Helmet

If you are going to take part in any sport in which the head may be impacted, wear a helmet. This includes riding a bike, playing a contact sport, skateboarding, rollerblading, or any other fast-moving sport. Always check that your helmet has the proper fit and that the chin strap is fastened snugly.

Make Your Home Safe

Many TBIs occur in the home due to falling. You can take a few simple steps in making your home a safer place. Do the following:

• Complete a safety walkthrough at your home to remove any items that may cause you to trip.
• Install non-stick mats in showers and tubs
• If you have children, install safety gates at both the start and end to stairways and on windows.

By being aware of the causes of traumatic brain injury and taking the necessary steps, you can lower your risk of sustaining a TBI. For more information, join the TryMunity community today.

The Glascow Coma Scale is the most common way to describe the level of consciousness in an individual who has suffered a brain injury. Medical professionals use the scale to help others understand the level of the injury. The GCS measures the following human functions:

Eye Opening (E)

• 4 = spontaneous
• 3 = voice
• 2 = pain
• 1 = none

Verbal Response (V)

• 5= normal conversation
• 4= disoriented conversation
• 3= words, but not coherent
• 2= no words, only sounds
• 1= none

Motor Response (M)

• 6= normal
• 5= localized to pain
• 4= withdraws to pain
• 3= decorticate posture (rigid posture, clenched fists, legs out, arms bent in and fingers held to chest)
• 2= decerebrate (rigid posture, legs and arms extended, neck and head arched back)
• 1= none

Medical staff uses this scale to rate each category and create a final GCS score, which is the sum of the numbers. Then the scale below is used:

• Severe brain injury: GCS 3-8
• Moderate brain injury: GCS 9-12
• Mild brain injury: GCS 13-15

How Accurate Is the Glascow Coma Scale?

The scale is based on the subjective observations of the medical staff but is, on the whole, consistent. However, certain situations or circumstances may give an inaccurate GCS number. If a patient is under the influence of drugs or alcohol or has cognitive delays, the GCS number may not be an accurate representation of the severity of the injury. If a patient is younger, a separate pediatric GCS scale is used due to children having difficulty with language.

For more information about brain injury, join the Trymunity community today. We are all here to support each other and spread useful information and resources.

Traumatic brain injury has been in the news a lot recently. TryMunity is always looking for the latest news and developments in the TBI community and is happy to share any information we find. Here are a few stories that have recently made headlines.

Frank Gifford Passes Away

We were saddened to hear of Frank Gifford’s passing. Frank Gifford was a famous football player who then went on to become a sports commentator. His family shared that at the time of his death, he was still suffering from brain injuries he sustained during his career with the New York Giants. This has led to an open discussion about traumatic brain injury and sports. We hope that this also raises awareness for funding research to help those with TBI.

Tranexamic Acid (TXA) Treatment for TBI

There has been a new development for the treatment of traumatic brain injury. The new therapy will be used throughout the country as UT Southwestern, the National Institutes of Health, and other partners announced they have released a new drug that could help stop bleeding in the brain. The new drug for TBI, Tranexamic Acid (or TXA) is one of the first new TBI medications that have been developed in the last 30 years. While TXA has been used in cardiovascular medicine, it is new to the TBI world, and it shows great promise!

According to Ahmad Idris, one of the professors of internal medicine at UT and principal investigator of the drug, if given directly after injury, it could help stabilize clots and stop brain bleeds. It acts to organize clots and prevent further bleeding. Currently, four emergency medical services and trauma centers in Dallas-Fort Worth will be participating in the new study. This will help shape the way we treat victims of traumatic brain injury, and hopefully, be able to save many more lives before significant damage is done due to brain bleeds.

If you have been diagnosed with a TBI, make sure to join the TryMunity community today. We are all in this together! 

When you are suffering from a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you may feel alone. You may have difficulty processing what has occurred, the changes you have had to make in your life, and coping with your new reality. TryMunity is always looking for great resources for our members. Here are our top picks for recommended reading on TBI.

1. Coping with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

By Diane Roberts Stoler Ed.D. & Barbara Albers Hill

This book focuses on identifying the different types of brain injury, treatment options available, and coping strategies for those impacted. This is a great read for those who have experienced a mild TBI but aren’t aware that some symptoms that they have been experiencing are connected.

2. Mindstorms: Living with Traumatic Brain Injury

By John W. Cassidy MD & Lee Woodruff

This is a great read about the emotional side a person experiences when they are suffering from a TBI. Dr. John Cassidy is well known in the TBI community for helping families in coping with the long-lasting impact of TBI and navigating the complex medical system to obtain proper treatment.

3. Brain Injury Survival Kit: 365 Tips, Tools, & Tricks to Deal with Cognitive Function Loss

By Dr. Cheryle Sullivan MD

This is a great straightforward read about methods and coping strategies for those who have suffered a TBI. It is also written to help family members and friends to understand how to assist in recovery. Dr. Cheryle Sullivan offers her own unique solutions to help those coping with cognitive loss due to severe brain injuries.

If you are looking for other great resources for TBI information, check out other posts on our blog. If you or a loved one has suffered from a TBI, join the TryMunity community today. We are happy to assist you in getting the help and support you need.