"SLEDHEAD" (link in bio) @nytimes
It's easy & fun to share the nice things about sport - advancements, opportunities, accomplishments, milestones, the adrenaline of racing at 140km/h!
But this piece was none of those things & it was hard to read & share..
This article is sobering.
I read it twice.
It broke my heart.
It asks big unanswered questions.
It showcases how bad things can get when they go wrong.
It highlights the need for concussion research & education.
It brings attention to the importance of mental health resources & support.
To date I have never had any head injuries.
But what does the everyday wear & tear of sliding under significant G-force, racing at break-neck speeds and the little bumps & bruises along the way mean for our brains?
Not really understanding - even on a professional level - the significance of smaller incidents, accumulated brain injury, risk levels, concussion recovery, & possible corresponding long-term effects can be scary. But I am thankful for the ongoing research, resources & protocols in place that help inform & protect athletes.
That said.. perhaps it's time again to stop, ask some hard questions, review our protocols & routines, & focus more on education & research to promote health here & now & in the future.
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" 'The concussions from the major crashes get diagnosed,' said Dr. Brian Benson, the chief medical officer for the Canadian Sport Institute in Calgary, Alberta, who has been studying brain trauma in sliding sports for a decade. 'The real concern is the concussion-like symptoms they experience because of the high speeds and the forces.' Benson compared it to shaken baby syndrome but for adults. The question no one can answer, because accumulated brain injury is so hard to measure in real time, is how much is too much?"
PS. My heart goes out to all the families & friends of the great athletes mentioned in this article. Thank you for willingly sharing their story.
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#sleighallday #sleightheday #bobsleigh #bobsled #teamcanada #sledhead #nytimes #neuroscience #psychology #concussion #concussionresearch #braintrauma #wearandtear #hottopic
