Episode 4 - Return to Sport: Overcoming the Stigma of Concussions in Sport
Episode 4 - Synopsis
Moderator: Connor Massimo
Episode Description: Connor Massimo, Physiotherapist and Founder of Pulse Physiotherapy in Peterborough, Ontario leads a discussion about returning to sport after experiencing a concussion/TBI. This episode brings together athletes from various sport backgrounds who have competed at different levels to talk about stigma and identity following a concussion.
How to listen
MAIN POINTS, TIMESTAMPS, THEMES & RESOURCES
Hiding symptoms from coaches and teammates – 11:45
Advocating for your own removal from sport is important if you are feeling symptoms.
Stigma can result in training staff, coaches and teammates questioning if you are injured or not.
The invisible nature of the injury makes recognizing and accepting the concussion in real time a lot harder.
Pressure to play is higher if the stakes were higher.
Example: playoff games or games leading into playoffs that matter.
Helpful reframing: It is not in your head; it is in your brain.
Misconception about an all or nothing thinking around brain injury - that a concussion is either severe or there is no concussion at all.
Missing practice or games due to concussion can be seen as a weakness. Often times resulting in an athlete’s dedication and commitment to the team being questioned.
It can be helpful if athletes reframe the idea that if you’re not playing, you are hurting your team. This can be looked at through the lens of: if you’re not playing at 100% healthy you’re hurting your team because you are not able to give them your all.
What information was given post-concussion? - 17:37
Clarity about how to manage symptoms and rest is important for athletes to be able to work through recoery.
We now know that rest is no longer the appropriate protocol for concussion. Slow re-integration into daily routines after 48 hours is common practice now.
Moving beyond the identity of an athlete – 22:42
Student athletes may experience difficulty in both school and sport.
Identity and mental health are two underlying factors that can greatly contribute to the return to sport process.
The process of finding your new normal is not a negative thing, it is you redefining how you operate.
Reclaiming whatever pieces of your identity that you feel are most important now, rather than trying to get back to whatever you thought your old self was can be a very important consideration throughout recovery.
The journey of personal growth for athletes can come from being injured. When you get hurt, athletes have to take a step back and embrace the injury in order to go through the process of healing.
What was your worst concussion like? – 28:32
Returning to sport too early can lead to prolonged recovery.
Timeline is always different for each individual. The same athlete may experience different experiences between each concussion.
Activities you would typically do every day can be a lot more difficult while in recovery.
The activities can feel different day-to-day as you progress through recovery.
The return to sport process is not the only thing that gets affected in recovery, the whole person is experiences new challenges in every aspect of their life.
Mental health can coincide with the concussion recovery. Sometimes this is not apparent until years later.
Pre-injury and pre-season testing does not always yield positive results.
One of the best things that health care practitioners rely on is what the person is feeling and what the athletes report. This is where additionally challenges can arise if athletes are not fully disclosing symptoms.
Issues with scat5 test and baselines in general because they do not account for areas of development or persistent challenges for individuals. Some people are naturally better at certain parts of the test than others.
Example: athletes can purposely score low on baseline tests so that if a concussion does happen, they’ll still scoring at their recorded baseline.
Often, athletes seek help years after receiving a concussion.
Biggest supporters throughout recovery – 41:39
Strongest advocates can come from the people who are supporting you out of their goodwill.
Teammates and friends who have also experienced the injury can personally understand what you are going through, the underlying pain from being away from sport and working through a potential identity crisis.
Finding someone who can understand what you may be going through is very important.
Parents and family members play a vital role in advocating for an athlete’s long-term health.
What would you do different? – 48:42
The brain is the center of everything you are and everything you hope to be. You can’t be your best for everyone else if you’re not okay. Pushing through is only hurting yourself and the people around you.
Take the accommodations that are available to you in school and sport.
Being cognizant of how you are feeling in the moment can help you be more aware of how the injury is affecting your life both long and short term.
Invincibility in sport is a lie. Trying to out tough pain, especially a brain injury will only lead to more problems down the road.
Take care of yourself - if something is wrong admitting it to yourself and going through the necessary channels to get that fixed.
Long term effects of concussion – 53:30
Mental health issues, concentration issues, mental fogginess.
Unsure if problems are because of concussions as a young adult or from what is currently happening in life.
Headache management is a constant battle.
Word association problems has been a lingering symptom, it can get worse when stressed or tired.
Sometimes it’s hard to figure where mental health symptoms stem from over time, and it can become frustrating to understand over time.
Hyperawareness of what you are feeling in your own head can be both a good and a bad thing.
Being hyperfused on your brain can create a certain level of paranoia. Focusing on other factors in your life or body can help you take your focus away from solely healing your brain.
Functional goals instead of focusing purely on symptoms can help create a more prosperous recovery pathway.
Helpful tip for anyone who’s never had a concussion – 1:02:04
Stay hydrated, drink water, nourish your brain.
Sport may seem like the most important thing to you right now, but at some point, it will end for everyone. Consider life after sport and your long-term health.
If you want to have longevity in life and in sport take care of your brain health.
Being a good teammate means taking care of your teammates holistically. If you notice something is wrong, speaking up is always the right decision.
Taking care of yourself and your teammates is of the utmost importance.
If you think you’ve had a concussion you might be making a lifelong decision if you decide to return to sport.