Motor Function and Brain Disruption: CTE & Concussions

Motor Function and Brain Disruption: CTE & Concussions

There are a host of events that can disrupt the motor function of the brain. Our central nervous system, CNS, is the center of all motor function and is comprised of the brain and the spinal cord. All of the feedback and feedforward information from the PNS, peripheral nervous system, is sent, interpreted and addressed in the CNS (Powers & Howely, 2015). When there are disruptions to these systems, motor function, speech, thought and even death can result. There are many conditions that result in brain dysfunction.           

Concussions are a very hot topic of late. The movie Concussion, starring Will Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu and his findings upon the autopsy of former All Pro NFL Center Mike Webster of the Pittsburgh Steelers sparked a series of autopsies and studies to be conducted on TBI or Traumatic Brain Injuries. There are several causes of TBI’s and unfortunately many of them go unreported and/or very little is done in the manner of follow-up after the patient leaves the hospital. Additionally, especially with sports related head trauma, the athletes tend to minimize or attempt to hide the occurrence in fear of losing playing or practice time. This is evidenced in the findings of a study conducted on college football players and a healthy control group. The repeated trauma to the head resulted in a 25% hippocampal volume reduction in the college football players vs. the healthy non-athletes (Fine, 2014). Not only is football a culprit, but according the studies reported by the American Association of Neurological Surgeon, football is second to cycling with hockey and horseback riding offering up substantial numbers as well. 

There is also another consideration, dehydration and its effect on head trauma. When I was coaching a high school wrestling team, we had a rash of concussions one year and which prompted me to delve into the concussion protocol and subsequently discovered a few interesting facts. Dehydration and the snapping of the head placed a great deal of stress on the brain. Prior to this, we’d see concussions caused by a wrestler getting accidently kneed in the head or both wrestlers head butting each other by mistake. This coupled with the brain’s response to long bouts of exercise affected the motor response of the body (Powers, Howely, 2015 pg. 153). Dehydration as a result of weight cutting or over exercising can lead to the loss of cerebral fluid and reduce the amount of cushioning to the brain and foster a condition of the brain becoming more susceptible to trauma. 

There data collection and concussion protocol are in their infancy and much more research needs to be done. All athletes should be subject to testing of motor and cognitive skills prior to competition so a baseline of brain function is set. This is the only true way to know how much they have been affected by the brain trauma.   

References:

Weber, Amanda Friedline, et al. Journal of Athletic Training 2013;48(2):153–160 doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-48.1.07 by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Inc www.natajournals.org Mar/Apr 2013, Vol 48, No. 2, pp 153-160

Maron, Dina Fine. A Generation Losses Consciousness, and Grows More Consciousness of Headbanging. May 13, 2014

Powers, Scott K., and Howley, Edward T. Exercise Physiology, Theory of Application and Performance. 9th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2015. 

American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Sports-related Head Injury. 5550    Meadowbrook Drive Rolling Meadows, IL 60008-3852 P 847.378.0500 or 888.566.AANS (2267) F 847.378.0600 Email: info@aans.org. 2017