New Axon Sports toolkit provides support to school, league and club administrators

Sherrie Peif covers education for The Tribune. Her column runs on Thursday. If you have an idea for a feature, contact Sherrie at (970) 392-5632 or by email at speif@greeleytribune.com.

In February 2010, when Robert Simmons hit the mat, he was out. Simmons’ mixed martial arts opponent had dealt him a blow that not only cost him the match, but nearly his life, as well.

He was 21.

On Sept. 18, 2004, Jake Snakenberg collapsed on a football field. The next day he died at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood.

He was 15.
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“Living with Concussions from a player’s perspective”
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Hockey Hall of Fame
10:30 AM

OVERVIEW – PRESS CONFERENCE
“We have a plan” stresses former Philadelphia Flyers captain, Keith Primeau, who will announce the official launch of stopconcussions.com. “With the increase in concussions and neurotrauma injuries, stopconcussions.com has been designed to educate players, administrators, physicians, coaches and officials on the cause, effects and consequences of concussions and neurotrauma injuries in all sport. Our programs have been developed by players with the support of great experts both in the medical and research field. Stopconcussions.com will help reduce the incidence of catastrophic injuries in all sport by instilling the principles to play safer.”
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Smart Hockey Video is now launched on ThinkFirst.ca.

What is a Concussion?
A concussion is a type of Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works. Concussions can also occur from a fall or a blow to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth. Health care professionals may describe a concussion as a “mild” brain injury because concussions are usually not life-threatening. Even so, their effects can be serious.
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The Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF) is pleased to publically release the Guidelines for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Persistent Symptoms.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) is also known as concussion. The best practice for treatment of those who sustain a mTBI who do not experience spontaneous recovery is not clearly defined. ONF initiated this project with the purpose of creating a set of guidelines that can be used by healthcare professionals to implement evidence-based, best practice care of individuals who incur a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and experience persistent symptoms. Persistent symptoms are not an uncommon complication of mTBI; 10 to 15% of individuals who incur mTBI will continue to experience significant symptoms beyond the normal recovery period of three months. Symptoms ccan include post-traumatic headache, sleep disturbance, disorders of balance, cognitive impairments, fatigue, and mood or affective disorders. With the high incidence of mTBI this potentially translates to a significant number of individuals who may experience associated disability.

The Guidelines were developed through a consensus process using existing evidence, clinical expertise and external review. As with all guidelines, they are a work in progress, likely needing an update within a few years. On behalf of the project team, ONF welcomes feedback about content and utility, which can be sent to info@onf.org

Guidelines for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Persistent Symptoms

By Rachel Brady, From Saturday’s Globe and Mail
After his head hit the boards during a game, 14-year-old Andrejs Linde developed agonizing headaches. But he hid the pain so he could stay on the ice. His parents are hoping his story serves as a wake-up call

For two weeks, 14-year-old Andrejs Linde was keeping something from his parents. He felt dizzy every time he stood up. He had disorienting headaches nearly all the time. And when he stepped outside, the glare of a sunny, snowy day was overwhelming.
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Kitchener Rangers Team Captain Gabriel Landeskog, Defenseman Ryan Murphy, Ben Fanelli and Assistant Coach Troy Smith

Almost everyone knows about Lance Armstrong’s battle through cancer to prove that nothing can slow him down. His story has become one of inspiration to many around the world, including the Kitchener Rangers’ Ben Fanelli.

That is why Ben in partnership with the Kitchener Rangers has developed HEAD STRONG, Fanelli 4 Brain Injury Awareness: a program designed to raise awareness about brain injuries.

“Lance Armstrong overcame something that no one thought was possible and I want to replicate that in a different way with my injury,” Ben says. “I planned to run this triathlon months ago because I needed another goal. I decided to turn it into something bigger and found an association I would like to support.”

That would be the Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC). Ben will be collecting pledges online and raising funds through the sale of a HEAD STRONG t-shirt, $20 including tax available at the Outpost, the official store of the Kitchener Rangers, with proceeds going to the BIAC and its programs.

On June 5, 2011 Fanelli will swim, bike and run his way through the Subaru Triathlon being held in Milton, Ontario. He will participate in a 750m swim, a 30km bike ride and a 7.5km run and is asking for your support in raising funds for the Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC). Pledges for his cause can be made online or in person at the Kitchener Rangers office.

“A concussion is a brain injury now. In my area of life, which is hockey. I want to make it known that there’s a way to help”, says Ben.

Something that has definitely helped keep Ben motivated with these plans is the support he has had, starting with teammates Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan Murphy. “The three of us talked about it and (Murphy and I) said we can help you out and we can be your trainers,” Landeskog explains. “It’s one of those things we all wanted to do, and it’s really exciting.”

And when it comes to training, the three of them are always at it. “We’re probably the last ones leaving the rink,” Murphy laughs. “I am the vocal guy out there that keeps him going – Gabe is the guy who can work out with him. But we do our part and can’t wait to see him running, swimming and biking.”

Ben participated in his first triathlon a couple weeks ago, and now knows how hard he will need to push. “I know my body isn’t meant for triathlons, I’ve trained for hockey,” he says. “But everything I’ve done in my life I try to come out on top. I’m going to go as hard as I can the whole race.”

Ben also knows he has more than just the support of his family, coaches and teammates as he strives to achieve his goals, but also that of the Kitchener fans.

“It’s absolutely amazing to feel the support. I can’t even find words to describe it because of the respect I feel and the adrenaline it gives me to work harder, it’s amazing. At the same time, I need to show everyone that I will be back.”

So focusing on what he can do now, and helping a cause so close to his heart is what Ben is set on doing. He is proving what determination can do, just like his idol. And like Lance Armstrong, Ben is hoping this leads to something great.

There are 2 ways to help Ben Fanelli raise funds for the Brian Injury Association of Canada: CanadaHelps and PayPal. Please click on the images below to donate.

From Mile High Report
Sometime today, League officials will announce a new standardized sideline testing protocol for diagnosing concussions in NFL players. This will put all 32 teams in compliance with procedures designed to protect the athletes from post-career mental health problems. The reason this is significant is that there are a few different kinds of tests for checking concussions and not all teams are using the same methods or being as diligent as they could be. And with the suicides of Andre Waters, Shane Dronett and more recently, Dave Duerson, it’s really about time the NFL has moved forward in this area.
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Letter to the editor of the Hill Times from Harry Zarins, BIAC Executive Director

Re: “If Sidney Crosby isn’t immune, neither are Canada’s youth” (The Hill Times, Feb. 7, p. 24). NDP MP Glenn Thibeault’s article is an excellent article opening the door to a national debate on creating awareness on Canada’s silent epidemic: acquired brain injury and its future pressures on the health, social, economic, educational and justice systems.

In all of the discussions surrounding concussions it must be strongly noted that a concussion is a brain injury and a concussion must be referred to as a mild traumatic brain injury, mTBI.
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