Barotrauma is injury due to blast exposure. It is a unique subconcussive exposure that tactical athletes are exposed to. There are a lot of different ways that tactical athletes are exposed to barotrauma,
– IED
– Grenades
– Breaching explosives
– Weapon fire
The most cumulative exposure of subconcussive events is weapon fire due to the proximity of the athlete to the weapon, and the incalculable number of weapon fires throughout their lifetime.
Cumulative exposure of subconcussive barotrauma can change the way the brain communicates between different regions (scientifically we call this functional connectivity). Part of the vestibular system, which is vital for situational awareness, is also vulnerable to barotrauma due to its anatomy and location in the inner ear, which is just deeper than your hearing system.
This knowledge helps explain why a career soldier may feel as though they are slowing down, and experience decreased situational awareness. It also convinced me of the need to find ways to maximize their functional connectivity, as well as the speed and precision of the vestibular system to maintain their readiness.
I started Subconcussive Consult, LLC to educate tactical athletes about subconcussive injuries, help mitigate their exposures, and facilitate training to optimize the systems needed for situational awareness that may be negatively impacted by subconcussions.
To learn more and to work with me, please email me at [email protected].