Anytime I read a research paper I constantly am asking myself “So what?” This isn’t in a dismissive way. It’s so my brain sees the information given to me and finds a way to make it meaningful to the people I serve. This article, Evidence of Dynamic Visual Acuity Impairments in Asymptomatic Mixed Martial Arts… Continue reading Asking “So What?”
Tag: Subconcussion
Speed in Every Plane
Have you ever watched a movie where they are filming from the perspective of a person running and the camera is shaking all over the place and you can’t keep the scene in focus? But then when they slow down it becomes clear again. Why is that? It’s because when they are moving slowly, your… Continue reading Speed in Every Plane
Beyond Muscle Fatigue
One way we slow down is through muscle fatigue. But muscle fatigue isn’t the only cause of slowing down. Our sensory systems fatigue as well. When in a highly stimulating environment, our sensory systems are working overtime sending signals to our brain. Our brain then needs to interpret these signals and send information to our… Continue reading Beyond Muscle Fatigue
What are Low Level Blasts?
Low level blasts (LLB) are created by weapons whose blasts create an overpressure wave, but a single exposure is not enough to create any obvious brain damage or cause symptoms. Examples of LLB are firing a 0.50 caliber sniper rifle, Howitzers, Carl Gustaf rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, light anti-tank weapons, shotgun door-breaching rounds, mortars, M4 Carbine… Continue reading What are Low Level Blasts?
Keep Your Head on a Swivel
The ability to move with speed and precision when your head is on a swivel is a skill. This skill can be broken down into specific components. Most individuals focus on the speed of their footwork, which is extremely important, but they neglect training of the speed of their head movements and integrations of these… Continue reading Keep Your Head on a Swivel
An Intangible Slowing Down
A 37-year-old male active-duty special operator was referred to me a few years ago who described an intangible feeling of slowing down, particularly in more visually stimulating environments. He was preparing for his retirement, and finally had time to start addressing some issues he ignored or “rubbed dirt on” throughout his career. There was no… Continue reading An Intangible Slowing Down
Blast Exposures and Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease
Subconcussive head trauma are sufficient in increasing vulnerability to developing young onset Parkinson’s Disease. [1] This includes subconcussive blast exposures. [2] There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s Disease. Current medical strategy is to decrease the impact it has on quality of life. As a Physical Therapist I’ve been part of healthcare teams doing that… Continue reading Blast Exposures and Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease
Keeping Target Focus with Movement
If the ability to maintain target focus with movement is important to you, you want to know about the vestibular system. It is one thing to keep a target in focus when stationary but maintaining that ability with movement is a much higher skill level. This is because when stationary there is significantly less demand… Continue reading Keeping Target Focus with Movement
How Subconcussions Can Impact Mental Health
Unique to tactical athletes is the volume of subconcussive forces they are exposed to, particularly subconcussive blast exposures. These exposures have been associated with later life depression, apathy, and poor emotional control. [1-3] Mental and emotional health is, unfortunately, still a touchy subject for many. While there are many factors that influence mental health, repeated… Continue reading How Subconcussions Can Impact Mental Health
Acceleration/Deceleration Subconcussive Impacts
One mechanism of subconcussive injury is that of rapid acceleration/deceleration. This is called a coup contre-coup injury. We often focus only on the mechanism of direct hits to the head as important head trauma and solutions often only focus on that mechanism. We find the best helmets for football, stop heading soccer balls, and create… Continue reading Acceleration/Deceleration Subconcussive Impacts