COLUMBUS -- A new tool is being used in the ongoing battle against sports-related concussions.
A Canadian company called "Shockbox" has developed a sensor that's placed on top of a helmet. The sensor measures the level of gravitational, or G-Force, during an impact. If it's strong enough, the sensor sends a signal to a cell phone or tablet that a coach, trainer or parent can check. That gives a warning to them that the player has suffered a serious enough hit that they should be checked for concussion symptoms. Shockbox co-founder and CEO Danny Crossman says although the device, which retails for $149.99, doesn't prevent concussions, it does provide another tool to get a jump on a concussion and potentially take that player out of harm's way. And that's something doctors say is crucial when dealing with brain injuries.
"Sometimes they'll clear up within a few hours or days," Dr. Steven Cuff, an expert in pediatric sports medicine said. "Often times, especially in teenagers or younger patients, it's not uncommon for them to last weeks or sometimes even months if they're not treated properly."
Thomas Worthington High School senior Nick Highley knows first hand the effects of a concussion. He suffered one playing football freshman year.
"I had neck spasms," Highley said. "I really couldn't move my neck either way. I had tunnel vision where really you're peripheral vision was almost blurred and you couldn't see out of the corner of your eyes."
In his case, Highley had to sit out of competition for three months before his symptoms went away and he was cleared by doctors.
"It isn't something you can just tape up and go play," Dr. Cuff said. "And over the last couple years, it's become the number one diagnosis we see in our offices."
That's partly because the amount of information and research about concussions has risen significantly. For instance, the Ohio Legislature passed stricter laws regarding treatment of concussions late last year. If a player shows signs of concussion, they must be removed immediately from practice or a game. The Shockbox could help aid in the effort to recognize if a player is at risk, because some players may lie about their symptoms so they can continue playing.
"I was thrilled to see something like this out there because again, these boys think they're invincible," Mary Lynn Buster, a local mom with 2 boys who play impact sports said.
One of Buster's boys suffered a serious concussion playing hockey. "And I think the children need to be told that if you get hit there's nothing wrong with saying I'm hurt, and these are what my symptoms are," Buster said. "It doesn't mean you're less of a tough guy, it doesn't mean you're less strong."
"You may feel like oh, you can play through it and it will go away," Highley said. "But your headaches will not go away. You can take as many pain killers as you want to help the pain go away, but in the end it's going to be there until you take a break, until you take a rest.''
In short, a helmet will protect your skull from injury, but doctors say no helmet will fully protect you from concussions. That's because your brain sits in fluid inside your skull, so when there's an an "acceleration, deceleration" moment where your head is thrown back and forth, your brain can slam against your skull causing damage to it. For more information about the Shockbox sensor you can go to their website at www.theshockbox.com And for more information about sports concussions, the Centers for Disease Control has a plethora of information at http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/sports/index.html.
A Canadian company called "Shockbox" has developed a sensor that's placed on top of a helmet. The sensor measures the level of gravitational, or G-Force, during an impact. If it's strong enough, the sensor sends a signal to a cell phone or tablet that a coach, trainer or parent can check. That gives a warning to them that the player has suffered a serious enough hit that they should be checked for concussion symptoms. Shockbox co-founder and CEO Danny Crossman says although the device, which retails for $149.99, doesn't prevent concussions, it does provide another tool to get a jump on a concussion and potentially take that player out of harm's way. And that's something doctors say is crucial when dealing with brain injuries.
"Sometimes they'll clear up within a few hours or days," Dr. Steven Cuff, an expert in pediatric sports medicine said. "Often times, especially in teenagers or younger patients, it's not uncommon for them to last weeks or sometimes even months if they're not treated properly."
Thomas Worthington High School senior Nick Highley knows first hand the effects of a concussion. He suffered one playing football freshman year.
"I had neck spasms," Highley said. "I really couldn't move my neck either way. I had tunnel vision where really you're peripheral vision was almost blurred and you couldn't see out of the corner of your eyes."
In his case, Highley had to sit out of competition for three months before his symptoms went away and he was cleared by doctors.
"It isn't something you can just tape up and go play," Dr. Cuff said. "And over the last couple years, it's become the number one diagnosis we see in our offices."
That's partly because the amount of information and research about concussions has risen significantly. For instance, the Ohio Legislature passed stricter laws regarding treatment of concussions late last year. If a player shows signs of concussion, they must be removed immediately from practice or a game. The Shockbox could help aid in the effort to recognize if a player is at risk, because some players may lie about their symptoms so they can continue playing.
"I was thrilled to see something like this out there because again, these boys think they're invincible," Mary Lynn Buster, a local mom with 2 boys who play impact sports said.
One of Buster's boys suffered a serious concussion playing hockey. "And I think the children need to be told that if you get hit there's nothing wrong with saying I'm hurt, and these are what my symptoms are," Buster said. "It doesn't mean you're less of a tough guy, it doesn't mean you're less strong."
"You may feel like oh, you can play through it and it will go away," Highley said. "But your headaches will not go away. You can take as many pain killers as you want to help the pain go away, but in the end it's going to be there until you take a break, until you take a rest.''
In short, a helmet will protect your skull from injury, but doctors say no helmet will fully protect you from concussions. That's because your brain sits in fluid inside your skull, so when there's an an "acceleration, deceleration" moment where your head is thrown back and forth, your brain can slam against your skull causing damage to it. For more information about the Shockbox sensor you can go to their website at www.theshockbox.com And for more information about sports concussions, the Centers for Disease Control has a plethora of information at http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/sports/index.html.