RNS: Michigan Neurosport, October 2006
TIME: 2:13
URL: www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2006/hmsportsbrain.htm
Additional Audio:
Jocks and brains: New U-M program focuses on concussions and other brain/nerve problems in athletes
Migraines, sleep problems, nerve injuries are more common among competitive athletes, says co-director of Michigan NeuroSport clinic
Suggested lead: The University of Michigan Health System has created a unique program to help diagnose, manage and treat competitive athletes with neurological problems. Here’s Andi Mcdonnell with more…
As any athlete knows, playing sports isn’t just about physical strength. To really do well, your brain has to be in the game too. And to play at an advanced level, like high school, college or professional athletes do, you need to be sharp.
But the brain, and the network of nerves that it controls, are delicate things. And in the crush of competition, or the stress of training, they can get damaged. Plus, any problem off the field that affects the brain and nerves can hurt an athlete’s performance on the field.
University of Michigan neurologist Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher (M.D.) explains…
“There are particular concerns that athletes have, neurologically speaking, mainly due to the intense training that they go through as well as the intense competition, puts them at higher risk for certain neurological concerns such as migraine headache and sleep disorders and a whole list of others that we are just discovering are more common in competitive athletes.”
That’s why Kutcher and his colleague Dr. Jonathan Edwards, (M.D.), have launched a unique new program for competitive athletes that focuses on injuries and illnesses affecting the brain and nerves. Called Michigan NeuroSport, it helps athletes on a high school, college and professional level get fast diagnosis and treatment, without running afoul of performance-enhancing drug guidelines.
Concussions are a big concern for athletes in many sports. Athletes who have suffered more than one concussion are especially likely to suffer long-term problems with thinking, memory, depression and dizziness – an effect called post-concussive syndrome. And that can interfere with their performance on the playing field.
Kutcher tells us…
“We do treat concussions a little bit differently in the NeuroSport clinic, again because these are patients who are very likely to be in the situation where they’re gong to get another concussion and so we have to be much more careful, do more rigorous testing, follow these patients more closely because you know in the next week or two after we see them, they’re probably gong to be back in the situation where they could be getting another concussion.”
The stress of competition, and of intense physical activity, can make two other neurological problems worse as well: sleep disorders and migraine headaches. Both of these condition get special attention at the Michigan NeuroSport clinic.
Andi Mcdonnell, U-M Health System News. |
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