Sport Psychology and Concussions

Eric T. SchultzArgosy University

Introduction to the Field of Exercise/Sport Psychology

Field not understood by coaches, teachers, doctors, or general public (Berger, Pargman & Weinberg, 2007)

Recent studies support the field Psychological interventions increase physical performance(Berger, Pargman &

Weinberg, 2007) Mood is closely related to stress and anxiety

Causes health related issues Participating in enjoyable gratifying activities performance(Berger,

Pargman & Weinberg, 2007) Challenges

Lack of data from practitioners Attempts being made to validate methods

Bridge gaps Cross Fit for juvenile justice

Introduction to the Field of Exercise/Sport Psychology

(continued) Feelings and emotions Brain is message board

Built by environment Feelings

Detailed thought of cognition Feeling sad

Emotions Physical responses to feelings

Crying (Matlin, 2009)

Improved physical ability and functional physical training Leads to wellness

Physical activity Historically, part of every day life Currently, supplements daily

activity Supports success

Positive self-concept Positive self-Esteem Positive personal

identity(Matlin, 2009)

Football and Concussions Sport Psychology

Leading the way for change in understanding concussions

Break through methods of detection Treatment Prevention

(Fainaru-Wada & Fainaru, 2013) League of Denial

National Football League (NFL) Testimonies

Players Doctors Families

(Fainaru-Wada & Fainaru, 2013)

Case Studies Mike Webster and Junior Seau

Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers Similarities

Body type Extra Wide necks

Pre/Post concussion behaviors Position Used head during contact Did not report injury Played consecutive games Began playing at a young age Suspected multiple concussions Major behavioral changes before committing

suicide(Fainaru-Wada & Fainaru, 2013)

Football and Concussions Concussion Characteristics

Impact on head or body Body suddenly stops Brain impacts skull Irreversible effects Behavioral changes

Bizarre Behavior (Beaver, 2013) Memory Misunderstood by coaches Mental illness

Depression(Beaver, 2013) Dementia (Beaver, 2013)

Frontal lobe most effected Most brain activity

(Mansell et al., 2010)

General Information about Concussions Definition

Is a result of the immediate and transient loss of consciousness followed by a brief period of amnesia after a blow to the head (Ropper and Gorson, 2007).

Mild concussion is when one is dazed, is not the result of a blow to the head nor loss of consciousness (Ropper and Gorson, 2007).

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers football players, ages 8-12, receiving concussions and epidemic ( Kontos et al., 2013)

Journal of pediatrics justifies empirical investigation on younger population in reference to concussions

Younger athletes suffer from worse outcome post concussions High risk for catastrophic injury

Continue to play They don’t report

Playing youth football may lead to residual impairment ( Kontos et al., 2013)

General Information about Concussions (continued)

Statistics Affects 128 people per 100,000 (Ropper and Gorson, 2007) “Young children have the highest rate of concussion (Ropper and Gorson,

2007, p. 166).” 1.6 million to 3.8 million have concussions as a result of playing sports or

engaging in recreational activities (Korsen and Walsh, 2014). More reports are from high school than college (Korsen and Walsh, 2014). Concussions increased 62% between 2001-2009, ages 8-13 ( Kontos et

al., 2013) 425,000 athletes ages 5 – 16 participate in football ( Kontos et al., 2013) 35 states and District of Columbia

Passed legislation to provide concussion education(http://search.proquest.com/docview/1118426153?accountid=34899)

General Information about Concussions (Statistics continued)

CDC America

3 brain injuries every minute 5.3 million people live with disabilities from brain injury Costs $76.5 billion Medical care and loss of work (West & Marion, 2014)

Diagnosis United States of America (USA) Football

Desire to educate parents and students CDC “heads up” program (http://search.proquest.com/docview/1118426153?accountid=34899)

Riddell Sports provide helmets Each helmet has hangtag

Information about concussions Confusion

Primary care providers and athletic trainers debate Identification of concussions Treatment of concussions (West & Marion, 2014)

Computed Tomography (CT) Scan should not be used Shows nothing Misdiagnosis

(West & Marion, 2014)

Diagnosis(Continued)

Multiple tests needed to diagnose Cognitive Function Speed test (West & Marion, 2014)

Symptoms Headache Fatigue Dizziness/disorientation Attention Deficit Disorder Nausea/vomiting Memory disturbance Balance Vision Problems

Blindness Numbness and tingling Alteration in mental status

Persistent neurocognitive problems (West & Marion, 2014)

Treatment Recommendations Paradigm Shift

No School No physical activity Treatment depends on severity Cognitive therapeutic approach Psychological Treatment

Education Reassurance Reattribution of symptoms (Mittenberg et al., 2001)

Medications Stabilization of chemicals in brain

Zoloft Xanax Valium

Administered after detection (Mittenberg et al., 2001) Minimal treatment availability

Lack of research and knowledge (West & Marion, 2014)

Prevention Parents

Inquiries to coaches/football programs Are you trained in how to teach football? Are coaches educated on symptoms and management of concussions? (http://search.proquest.com/docview/1118426153?accountid=34899)

Assessment tools Research and education

Baseline Brain Scan Add into Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) (4th ed., text

revision, American Psychiatric Association, 2000) Participation

Should not play Have a labeling system

Risk for injury (West & Marion, 2014)

Prevention continued

Technological advances Hand held devices

Perform brain scans on field In-helmet scanner

Conclusion Football

Currently most popular sport Will decline(Beaver, 2013) Necessary Change

Sport Psychology leading change Can Keep players from play

Children follow media Help them understand the dangers of playing football

ReferencesAmerican Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC: Author.Anshel, M. H. (2012). Sport psychology: From sport to practice (Fifth ed.). San Francisco, CA: Pearson

Education Inc.Beaver, W. (2013). The future of football. Soc, 50, 335-338. doi:10-1007/s12115-013-9668-7Berger, B. G., Pargman, D., & Weinberg, R. S. (2007). Foundations of exercise psychology (Second ed.). Morgantown, WV: Fitness Information Technology.Fainaru-Wada, M., & Fainaru, S. (2013). League of denial: The NFL, concussions, and the battle for truth. New York, NY: Crown ArchetypeHelmets to include concussion info. (2012). Professional Safety, 57(7), 22. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1118426153?accountid=34899Kontos, PhD, A. P., Elbin, PhD, R. J., Sumrock, PhD, V. C., Burkhard, PsyD, S., Swindell, BS, H., Maroon, MD, J., &

Collins, PhD, M. W. (2013, January 29). Incidence of sports-related concussion among youth football players aged 8-12 years. The Journal of Pediatrics, 163(3), 717-720. doi:10.1016/jpeds.2013.04.011

Korsen, D., & Walsh, J. (2014). Concussions and young athletes. The National Academies in Focus, 13(2), 10-11. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1543793642?accountid=34899Master, C. L., M.D., & Grady, M. F., M.D. (2012). Concussion: Latest diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Pediatric Annals,41(9), 362-3. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/00904481- 20120827-07

ReferencesMansell, J. L., Tierney, R. T., Higgins, M., McDevitt, J., Toone, N., & Glutting, J. (2010, August).

Concussive signs and symptoms following head impacts in collegiate athletes. Brain Injury, 24(9), 1070-1074. doi:10.3109/02699052.2010.494589

Matlin, M. W. (2009). Cognition (Seventh ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Mittenberg, W. C., Canyock, E., Condit, D. and Patton, C., (2001). Treatment of Post-Concussion Syndrome Following Mild Head Injury. Journal of Clinical & Experimental

Neuropsychology, 23(6), 829.

Ropper, A. H., M.D., and Gorson, K. C., M.D. (2007). Concussion. The New England Journal of Medicine, 356(2), 166-172. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/223925686?accountid=34899

West, T. A., and Marion, D. W. (2014). Current recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of concussion in sport: A comparison of three new guidelines. Journal of Neurotrauma, 31(2),

159-68. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/neu.2013.3031