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Concussions: Invisible Injuries

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ConcussionThere has been a lot of attention given to the topic of sports concussions over the last few weeks. Mike Leach the head football coach at Texas Tech University was suspended and later fired over his alleged treatment of Adam James, a Tech player who suffered a mild concussion. Adam happens to be the son of ESPN analyst Craig James. And recently the NFL and Congress have created committees to discuss the treatment of concussions, and the link between head injuries in sports and long term brain damage.

Not Your Normal Sports Injury

I for one am glad to hear this. Concussions are a different type of injury and are not as easily detected as other injuries. Unlike a knee injury, a broken arm, or a separated shoulder, there is no apparent physical evidence that anything is wrong with the athlete when they suffer a concussion. With knee injuries or other obvious sports related injuries there are crutches, knee braces, slings, or cast that tell doctors, coaches, teammates, trainers, and fans that something serious has happened to the athlete. It is obvious that rehabilitation and time are required for healing to take place and for the athlete to be able to return to competition.

What is a Concussion?

Concussions are in effect a bruising of the brain. When an athlete suffers helmet to helmet contact, or hits their head on the field or court the brain slams against the skull [which can cause bruising]. The more serious the concussion, the more serious the resulting swelling and bruising of the brain tissue can be. This swelling and bruising causes memory loss, headaches, poor reaction time, impaired thinking, confusion, slow recall, and other serious symptoms.

Current Treatment

Treatment requires literally turning the brain off. Athletes are required to stay out of school, stay away from television, computers, video games, or other activities that create stress on the damaged brain. IMPACT testing is utilized to identify deficiencies in brain functioning. This test also shows when the athletes brain functioning returns to normal levels. Physical activity is monitored looking for symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and nausea. When the athlete is symptom free and testing shows a return to normal levels of brain functioning the treating physician and athletic trainer give the green light to return to competition.

The Mental/Emotional Aspect of Sports Injuries

I believe that there is a mental/emotional component to concussions as well. In my work with injured athletes I have found that athletes who suffer concussions all experience intense mental and emotional reactions to their experiences. In most cases these reactions are traumatic.

I have worked with athletes who have been hit so hard they were out cold for over a minute. Some have no memory of the hit that knocked them out, but they have images in their mind that are created from what people tell them happened, or what they see on game film. They talk about the terrible confusion, fear, and embarrassment they feel when they recall sitting on the bench knowing something very serious has happened but not remembering anything about the injury. These images are incredibly vivid and disturbing to the athlete.

Other athletes have very clear memories of the experience. They have told me what it was like to be strapped to a stretcher, immobilized, and taken by ambulance to the hospital. I have heard numerous stories from athletes who return to play, threw numerous interceptions, and were booed off the field. These experiences are all filled with incredible intensity and have a profound impact on the mental and emotional state of the athlete.

These same athletes also tell me about coaches, teammates, and fans who tease, ridicule and humiliate them for sitting out of practice and games.

Sports injuries, particularly concussions are never just physical in nature. When we create a space for the injured athlete to tell their story and help them process and integrate the psychological impact and trauma of the concussion, athletes get better. Their “lights turn back on”. Their mind clears and their self confidence returns.

Now imagine Adam James standing in a dark shed for three hours, unable to sit down or lean against anything. What was the message being sent to him and other Tech athletes who might suffer a concussion? I can’t imagine anything therapeutic coming from this type of treatment. Imagine the pressure put on the athletic trainers to follow orders demanding this type of treatment for an athlete. Sadly, this story sounds like so many other stories I have heard about the treatment of a concussed athlete. This treatment was meant to humiliate, degrade, and punish Adam for sitting out of practice with a concussion.

Time For Change

It took Adam being the son of a high profile, nationally recognized sports analyst to bring attention to the treatment his son endured after suffering a concussion.

Along with the NFL playoffs, bowl games, and the BCS National Championship, the eyes and ears of the sports world are now focused on the treatment of athletes who suffer concussions. I am elated to hear that mandatory guidelines are being put in place by the NFL for teams to follow when providing care for athletes who suffer a concussion. I hope the NCAA and high schools throughout the country follow their lead.

These injuries are real and very serious. The athlete who suffers a concussion deserves to be treated with the same care and dignity as any athlete who suffers any other type of sports related injury.  Download a pdf version of this post

Fear of Re-injury in Recovery: Finding A New Way Back

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Sports InjuryBy Robert B. Andrews MA, LMFT

For many athletes coming back from a serious sports related injury is a terrifying ordeal. They have been cleared to play physically, but their fear of suffering another injury can be debilitating. These fears can cause complications with their return to play. Many suffer from confusion, anxiety, anger, shame and guilt. If they have been cleared to play then why do they feel so bad? Many feel that something is wrong with them if they can’t come back confident and in a good frame of mind.

I was talking with a soccer player and one of their parents about a teammate who suffered a strained ACL. The injured athlete took time off for the injury to heal. When they returned to play they were terrified. They were afraid of injuring their knee again and played with anxiety, fear, and apprehension. They did not play all out and their hesitancy was apparent. It grew worse with each game. As their anxiety and fear grew they became more emotional during the games. It was apparent to everyone watching that something was wrong.

I began to get excited at the thought of helping this athlete overcome their sports injury trauma. As I reached for a business card for the parent of the struggling athlete I was told that during their last game the athlete had torn their ACL completely. The field was in really bad condition and their fear of re-injury was amplified. They were crying while trying to play soccer. They ended up in a fight for the ball and injured their knee. I felt my heart sink when they told me this part of the story.

Too Many Sad Stories

I was on the sidelines of a football game watching a running back who had torn his ACL the year before. He was hesitating as he ran and favoring the injured knee. After the game I told his coach that he was going to suffer an ACL injury to the other knee if he didn’t get some help with the trauma from the first injury. The next week he tore his other ACL.

I was watching a game on television and I observed hesitation and apprehension in an offensive lineman who had injured his left knee the year before. I turned the game off at half time. A few days later I called his athletic trainer and mentioned to him that I believed that this lineman was heading towards an injury on his other knee. He asked me why I felt this way. I told him what I observed watching the game. He said that was interesting and that the lineman had torn his other ACL in the fourth quarter of that game.

Is the Wrong Message Being Sent?

An athlete I helped overcome a horrific injury was interviewed about his “miracle comeback”. When they asked this athlete what they did to make such a profound come back they said they just had a “really strong attitude and mind set”. They didn’t mention all the hard work they did mentally and emotionally to overcome the trauma they suffered while injured and unable to compete. I believe this athlete did a disservice to other athletes who are trying to overcome the trauma and the mental and emotional blocks that stand in the way of a full “100%” recovery. They sent a message to other injured athletes that all you have to do is have a strong mindset and everything will be o.k.

This message can have a profoundly negative impact on the athlete who is struggling to get back mentally and emotionally. It can create doubt and confusion, and erode self confidence. Many athletes never find their way back from injury because they can’t overcome this cauldron of powerful emotions.

The New Way Back

I was watching a game on TV recently. An athlete I helped overcome a serious injury was having a great game. It was apparent that they were confident, in command, and had no fear of re-injury. The commentator said it was apparent that this athlete was back physically, but that they were back mentally too. My wife asked me to replay his comment. We listened to it again and she said “someone gets it”. This commentator could see from the way this athlete was playing that they have experienced a complete psychological recovery from their injury too.

I wish I could have helped the young soccer player before they suffered a completely torn ACL. I wish I could help every injured athlete. Treating the traumatic nature of sports related injuries puts the athlete back in charge and rids them of fear, anxiety, apprehension, depression and self doubt. They return to play mentally stronger and tougher. Not only does their attitude and outlook get better, they come back wiser and more mature. This wisdom and maturity permeates all areas of their lives. They learn a lot in the process of coming back.  Download a pdf version of this post

FAN Inc – Help For Former College Athletes Who Suffer Injuries

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FAN Inc., The Foundation for Athletes in Need (www.faninc.org) is a non-profit organization that provides resources to former college athletes who were injured while participating in college athletics and are suffering in some significant way. I am grateful and blessed to be a member of the Board of Directors of this wonderful organization.

Two weekends ago FAN Inc. had a board meeting and luncheon at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. My wife Gisele and I attended. We were hosted by the University of Michigan Letterman’s Club. They provided us their historic Letterman’s Club Room at the University of Michigan golf course for our events.

Go Blue! University of MichiganThe University of Michigan catering department provided us with a wonderful lunch. The luncheon was an opportunity to tell many of those involved with athletics at Michigan about FAN Inc. and the vision those of us on the board share for this organization.

I was asked to speak on the psychological impact of traumatic sports injuries. Other speakers were Brandi Winans on the impact of sports injuries on the family members of athletes who suffer severe injuries and Kurt David who spoke about the difficulty many athletes, especially injured athletes face transitioning out of their respective sport.

I was profoundly moved by how the university and many former athletes took us in and treated us so warmly.  Athletic Director Dave Brandon has written a letter of endorsement for FAN and the Letterman’s Club is excited to help out in any wathey can. I met alumni, students, coaches, a marketing specialist, faculty, and athletes who are all excited about the vision of FAN.

The University of Michigan sets a very high priority on the well being and care of their student/athletes. Michigan has representatives who work closely with different teams to make sure that student athletes have the resources they need to have a successful college experience. If they need help with life skills, academics, nutrition, counseling, or any other facet of life they direct them to available resources. Their willingness to look out for the well being of their student athletes helped those we connected with see the value and the power of FAN Inc. It is clear that the mission of FAN Inc. is vital and important cause and will have a profound impact on the lives of those athletes we touch.

The “Big House” and Michigan Tradition

Robert & Gisele Andrews University of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a wonderful place. It was buzzing with energy about Saturday’s showdown with rival Michigan State. Gisele and I arrived on campus for the game at 9:00am. We wanted see the campus and facilities and take in the energy on game day. We spent an hour and a half watching and listening to the Michigan band rehearse prior to the game. We attended the Michigan Football Letterman’s Cornbread and Chili Outing prior to the game. Our view from the stadium pavilion allowed us to see both teams enter the stadium and watch the Michigan State band march in. I had tears in my eyes as I watched these rich traditions displayed by each school.

Attending a football game in “the Big House” has been on my “bucket list” for a long time. Walking into the massive bowl with brand new luxury suites was an amazing experience. I have never seen a stadium so big. And when it filled up there was a sea of maize as over 113,000 fans showed up to watch two ranked teams. Seeing the players come out of the tunnel and touch the “Go Blue” banner was another moving experience.

Michigan State won 34 to 17 after pulling away in the second half. The whole experience of the bands, passionate fans, a great game, and the rich traditions made this a memorable trip.

Thanks This trip was a great kick off for the FAN Inc. vision. Looking down the road we see other universities from around the country, letterman’s associations, and professional athletes joining in and supporting this great cause. There are thousands of former college athletes out there suffering in some way and we want to help.

I want to thank my fellow FAN Inc. Board members, the staff and faculty at the University of Michigan, the Michigan Letterman’s Club, especially Jim Betts and Gerald White for showing us such a great time in Ann Arbor and I look forward to a very bright future for FAN.  Download a pdf version of this post

Balance – Redefining Your Definition of Success

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Urban Meyer RetiresThe college football world was shocked this weekend when Urban Meyer the hugely successful and popular head coach of the University of Florida Gators stepped down due to health related issues.

In his press release he mentioned two things that jumped out at me. He said “I have neglected my health for years” and “I have given nearly every waking hour of my life to Florida football for the last five years.”

Urban Meyer has done an amazing job of returning Florida to the top of the college football world. In his five years at “Gator Nation” he has won two national championships and coached a Heisman Trophy winner in Tim Tebow. But his comments make me think something was seriously out of balance in his life. His body has been screaming at him for years to make changes that might have enabled him to continue coaching, created a healthier life style, and prolonged his life.

Recovery is vital to athletes and coaches alike. Creating time and engaging in activities that help our mind and body recharge and revitalize is imperative. Going for long periods of time without recovery creates incredible levels of stress. The body will do everything it can to restore balance. Pain, anxiety, headaches, and low energy, are warning signs from the body. The body is telling us that we are out of balance. That it is time to make changes. If we ignore these warning signs they intensify resulting in serious physical and mental health related issues or breakdowns.

Years ago I worked with a Doctor on his golf game. He talked about how much he loved golf but he rarely got to play because he was always working. I asked him what his definition of success was. He told me he wanted to see so many patients a week, and make so much money. I asked why family, social time, and making time to play golf were not part of his definition of success. I saw the light bulb go off over his head. He had been living in a very narrow definition of success that only included work. He was missing out on time with his wife and kids, his friends, and golf. He started taking Fridays off to play golf in the morning and be with his family the rest of the weekend. Not only did his golf game improve, but his attitude, relationships, and health improved remarkably.

Urban Meyers daughter was quoted in his press release as saying “I get my Daddy back”. I felt sad when I read this. He has been enormously successful as a head football coach and mentoring the young athletes under his care. But I wonder if he had a broader definition of success, a definition that included balancing his time and energy to take care of his own health, spend time with his family, and create social relationships that filled him up when he was empty would he have needed to step down.

Some might argue that he might not have been as successful at Florida. I know that being a head football coach on any level is demanding on time, energy, and resources. To coach at an elite program like Florida must be overwhelming on some days.

As leaders those we lead look to us as models for how to do life. By being a leader who models balance, working hard, and taking time to recharge and recover we teach those around us the power of self care, and personal integrity.

I believe Urban Meyer and others in the world of sports who “are stuck on the treadmill” can still be effective coaches and leaders by learning how to redefine their definition of success. I hope he returns to Florida to coach next season. He is a great man, a great leader, and a great coach. He is a great man, a great leader, and a great coach. He is good for college football, and the young men he leads and mentors. I hope he returns with a new definition of success.  Download a pdf version of this post

Energizing the Mind and Body: Keys to Obtaining Peak Energy Levels and Mental Focus

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Gymnastics Alicia Sacramone practices on Balance BeamAs a sports performance consultant I am keenly aware of the power the mind has on gymnastics performance. I am also aware that physical endurance is vital to competing at your best.

When a gymnast understands the connection between mind and body and integrates this concept into training, scores will increase significantly. Where your mind leads the body follows. What you see in your mind and think about will show up in the way your body performs on the floor.

There are a few key things to consider leading into a competition that will help you to show up for your meet with a clear, fresh mind, and plenty of energy to perform at your best.

By integrating these pre meet rituals you can enhance energy and power, and compete with a clear, fresh mind.

Get plenty of rest the night before the meet.

Many gymnasts have a habit of staying up late. I think this starts early when young gymnast get home from the gym late at night and then eat dinner and stay up late working on homework. They become conditioned to staying up late, and eating late. Get to bed early and give your mind and body time to rest.

Do not spend a lot of time on brain intensive activities.

I won’t win over many young gymnasts with this one but stay away from the television, the computer, and video games as much as possible the night before a meet.  This doesn’t mean stay away completely, but be reasonable with the amount of time you spend in these activities. These are activities that require a tremendous amount of energy from the brain. Spending too much time on these types of activities will create brain fatigue and will affect performance.

Don’t eat after 7:00 p.m. the night before a meet.

Digesting food requires more energy than any other bodily function. If you eat late, your body is burning energy and working all night long to digest that meal. Eat early if possible. Your body will have the meal digested before you go to bed. Your body will have only one task at night, to recharge your energy system. You will wake up feeling refreshed and ready to compete.

Eat low stress foods at night.

Low stress foods are foods that are easily digested. Chicken, fish, cooked vegetables, and light pastas are examples of low stress foods. Red meat, pork, and heavy fat dishes are high stress foods. High stress foods take more energy to digest causing your body to work hard at night to digest the meal.

Give yourself plenty of time in the morning to prepare for the meet.

One of the most stressful things a gymnast can do is rush to the gym late. This can throw off the whole day and lead to tremendous increases in stress and pressure. Get up early enough to allow for a slow, comfortable pace the morning of the meet. Try to arrive a half hour before your warm up even begins. This ease in pace will carry over into the days competition.

Eat a good breakfast.

Eat a balanced breakfast the morning of the meet. This breakfast should include fruit, and some source of protein like a smoothie, eggs or whole grain toast with peanut butter. This will give the body plenty of fuel to break down over time and will not cause a spike in blood sugars. I don’t recommend eating a high sugar breakfast in the morning.

Eat during the meet.

I am amazed at how many gymnasts don’t eat during the competition. Many gymnasts have a fear of feeling heavy the day of competition so they don’t eat during a meet. If you eat breakfast at 7:00 a.m., leave the house and arrive at the gym early for a 9:00 a.m. warm up you won’t eat again until lunch time. That is too long to go without putting more fuel in the body. Towards the end of the meet your energy level and brain power will begin to drop off. Eat small bites of energy bars, bananas, apples or other easy to digest energy sources during the meet and sip low sugar energy drinks. Your energy will stay consistent and your mind will stay focused on your routines during the entire meet.

Each of these suggestions will have a positive impact on performance. When utilized together you can expect more energy and a clearer sharper mind. When the body and mind feel right at the same time we reach peaks in self confidence. It is the confident gymnasts who are usually on the medal podium at the end of the meet.  Download a pdf version of this post

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