Perspective From a Varsity Athlete Seeking Concussion Information to Help Recovery

Authors

  • Emily Baker University of British Columbia
  • Shazya Karmali BC Children's Hospital
  • Shelina Babul University of British Columbia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i4.362

Keywords:

Concussion, Education, Athlete, Traumatic Brain Injury, Care Seeking

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to share my experience, as a varsity rugby player, in seeking guidance and accurate and accessible concussion education and information through online web-based platforms after suffering multiple concussions. My experience is not unique; I am one of countless young adults who search the web for knowledge and information through online search engines for health-related advice. Young adults utilize the internet for accurate and relevant health information, as the digital age has reshaped how one obtains relevant information to change their knowledge and behaviour. When my sports medicine physician informed me that I could not participate in rugby-related contact practices for a lengthy period of time, I, as an athlete, needed to further my knowledge on the intricacies of the brain and the impact that multiple concussions may have. I also wanted to understand why I had to take so much time off to heal when, physically, I was feeling fine. Knowing that I would be missing provincial rugby tournaments and a tour to Ireland, I wanted to find answers beyond those provided by my healthcare provider. Through my online search for information, I discovered a lot of information on concussions, but I still had trouble finding answers from one trusted and reputable source. In this commentary, I discuss my experience with concussions, how I used the internet to obtain credible information and what I found, how social media provided me with additional support, and why finding accurate concussion information is important for recovery.  

References

Ahmed, O. H., Sullivan, S. J., Schneiders, A. G., & Mccrory, P. (2010). ISupport: Do social networking sites have a role to play in concussion awareness? Disability and Rehabilitation, 32(22), 1877-1883. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638281003734409

Babul, S., & Pike, I. (2017). The online concussion awareness training tool (catt). British journal of sports medicine, 51(11), A72-A72. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-097270.187

Baugh, C. M., & Kroshus, E. (2016). Concussion management in US college football: Progress and pitfalls. Concussion, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.2217/cnc.15.6

Cain, J. A., Armstrong, C., & Hou, J. (2020). Somebody Google a doctor! Urgent health information seeking habits of young adults. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.29333/ojcmt/7853

Fergie, G., Hilton, S., & Hunt, K. (2015). Young adults‘ experiences of seeking online information about diabetes and mental health in the age of social media. Health Expectations, 19(6), 1324-1335. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.12430

Kita, H., Mallory, K. D., Hickling, A., Wilson, K. E., Kroshus, E., & Reed, N. (2020). Social support during youth concussion recovery. Brain Injury, 34(6), 784-792. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2020.1753243

Levy, B. B., Luong, D., Perrier, L., Bayley, M. T., & Munce, S. E. (2019). Peer support interventions for individuals with acquired brain injury, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida: A systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4110-5

Meehan, W. P., Mannix, R. C., Obrien, M. J., & Collins, M. W. (2013). The prevalence of undiagnosed concussions in athletes. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 23(5), 339-342. https://doi.org/10.1097/jsm.0b013e318291d3b3

Orlovska, S., Pedersen, M. S., Benros, M. E., Mortensen, P. B., Agerbo, E., & Nordentoft, M. (2014). Head injury as risk factor for psychiatric disorders: A nationwide register-based follow-up study of 113,906 persons with head injury. American Journal of Psychiatry, 171(4), 463-469. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13020190

Robert, S. (2020). Traumatic brain injury and mood disorders. Mental Health Clinician, 10(6), 335-345. https://doi.org/10.9740/mhc.2020.11.335

Robinson, C., & Pond, D. R. (2019). Do online support groups for grief benefit the bereaved? Systematic review of the quantitative and qualitative literature. Computers in Human Behavior, 100, 48-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.06.011

Stein, M. B., Jain, S., Giacino, J. T., Levin, H., Dikmen, S., Nelson, L. D., . . . Zafonte, R. (2019). Risk of posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression in civilian patients after mild traumatic brain injury: A TRACK-TBI study. JAMA Psychiatry, 76(3), 249–258. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.4288

Thunderbird Student Athlete Portal. (2021, September 6). Retrieved from www.students.canvas.ubc.ca.

Tsaousides, T., Matsuzawa, Y., & Lebowitz, M. (2011). Familiarity and prevalence of Facebook use for social networking among individuals with traumatic brain injury. Brain Injury, 25(12), 1155-1162. https://doi.org/10.3109/02699052.2011.613086

Waechter, F. M. (2019). Social media for science and research: Current trends and future possibilities. Retrieved from https://fmwaechter.com/social-media-science-research/

Downloads

Published

2022-01-12

How to Cite

Baker, E. ., Karmali, S. ., & Babul, S. (2022). Perspective From a Varsity Athlete Seeking Concussion Information to Help Recovery. The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada, 14(4), 10–15. https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i4.362

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 4 (2021)

Section

STUDENTS' CORNER

License

Copyright (c) 2021 Shelina Babul, Emily Baker, Shazya Karmali

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Terms of Publication

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  • Authors retain copyright and grant the Health & Fitness Journal of Canada’s right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
  • The Contributor (author(s)) represents and guarantees that the Contributor is the sole proprietor of the work and the Contributor has full power to make this Agreement and grant that the work does not infringe the copyright or other proprietary right of any other person; and the work contains no libellous or other unlawful matter and makes no improper invasion of the privacy of any other person. The Contributor also represents and is responsible for the accuracy of the work.
  • The Contributor will read, correct, and return promptly galleys and page proofs to the Editor (or designate). The Contributor will be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of these corrections. If the Contributor does not return galleys and page proofs within the schedule agreed upon with the Editor (or designate), the Publisher may proceed without the Contributor corrections.
  • When applicable, the Contributor agrees to obtain written permissions and letters of agreement for all matter contained in the work that is protected by existing copyright, paying any permission fees for the use of text or illustrations controlled by others, and furnishing the Publisher with written evidence of the copyright owner’s authorization to use the material.
  • When applicable, the Contributor agrees to obtain written permission for inclusion of any photographic materials involving a human subject, and provide the Publisher with written evidence of the subject’s authorization to use this material. In the case of subjects who have not reached the age of majority, the Contributor agrees to obtain and furnish the Publisher with written permission from the parent and/or legal guardian.
  • The Contributor may draw on and refer to material in the work in preparing other articles for publication in scholarly and professional journals and papers for delivery at professional meetings, provided that credit is given to the work and to the Publisher.
  • This agreement may not be changed unless the Contributor and the Publisher agree to the change by means of a formal addendum signed by the Contributor and the Publisher’s representative.
  • This agreement shall be construed and governed according to the laws of the province of British Columbia and shall be binding upon the parties hereto, their heirs, successors, assigns, and personal representatives. Should any formal proceedings related to this agreement be brought, such formal proceeding may be brought only in the province of British Columbia.

By submitting an article to the Health & Fitness Journal of Canada the Contributor has accepted and agreed to all terms outlined in the copyright notice.