By: Gavin Roland

*Please note that some information in this presentation comes

from outside sources.

Mentor: Dr. Matthew Higgs

Sul Ross State University: Bachelor of
Science
Texas Tech Health Sciences Center:
Medical School Training
John Peter Smith Hospital: Family
Medicine Residency.
Mentorship Site: All American
Orthopedics
Medical Field: Sports Medicine
ISM Teacher: Mrs. Click
Left: Gavin Roland & Right: Dr. Matthew Higgs

The Independent Study Mentorship (ISM) is an Advanced Academic

course designed for students wishing to shadow an adult professional
in a chosen career.
Document a minimum of 3 hours of mentorship activities each week
Complete a journal entry each week
Complete an ISM Professional Portfolio Online
Develop a final product and presentation at the collegiate/professional
level, presented in front of graders.

Topic

Concussions

Why?
Extremely relevant in the life of an
athlete
A hot topic in the medical world
today
Understand how people close to
me will be affected later in life.

Project topic:

Concussion

Sub-sections:

Causes and effects of concussions

on the brain
Short term vs long term

Athletic vs Non Athletic Concussion

Solutions and Treatments
Medicine used in recovery
Recovery methods
New and innovative concussion relieving

techniques.

Short Term Effects

Brain sensitivity
Slurred Speech
Drowsiness
Increased Confusion
Agitation

Long term

Brain size drops 10-20%

Especially in frontal lobe
Frontal lobe controls:
Decision making
Problem Solving
Impulse control

Decrease of blood flow in brain

Lack of efficiency

Post Concussion Syndrome

Difficult to identify
Very common (40-80% of concussion

victims)

Sport Concussions

Terms used are:

Concussion
Return to play
Return to practice

Most doctors use their own scale to classify

severity
Issues
creating a common/valid concussion severity scale
creating safer equipment for athletes.

Non-Sport Concussions

Terms used are:

Mild traumatic brain injury
Mild head injury

Glasgow Coma Scale is used to classify severity

Issues

acute management.

Medicine used during

concussions:

No medications are used to

specifically treat concussions
Doctors prescribe the same
medication they would for
headaches.
Amitriptyline
Topiramate
Gabapentin

Recovery methods

Rest of the body and brain are the

best way to recover from a
concussion.
Resting method include but are
not limited to
plenty of sleep at night
avoiding drugs
avoiding alcohol

using ice cold packs for swelling

using pain medicine as directed.

New methods, practices, and innovative technology

The allotted time for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA)
CB3's is an electrode covered mesh cap. The main attraction is a type of magnetic
resonance imaging machine known as a functional MRI that tracks the brain's
blood flow.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
The GyroStim, a multi-axis, robotically controlled chair.

GyroStim Machine

CB3 magnetic resonance imaging

machine

Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber

Egg and water jug demonstration

when explaining the effects of
concussions on an athlete.

The egg will act as the brain while

the cup and water will act as the
skull and cerebral fluid.
By shaking the cup (with a lid) in a
violent manner for a very short
time period, I will simulate a hard
impact on the head.
I will do the same procedure as
above but I will cover the outside
of the skull with a helmet of
piece of protective gear (a form of
knee pad) . By adding the
protective gear, I will be able to
compare a protected and nonprotected head on the brain.

Brain model with lights or

indicators of brain activity before
and after a concussion.
Create another model comparing
the brain of a long time
concussion victim and a nonconcussion victim

Things I've learned from my

mentor

Things Ive learned from my

research

Things I've learned from the

course as a whole

Thank you Dr. Higgs for being so flexible

with my schedule and making medicine
a enjoyable and relaxing topic to learn.
Thank you evaluators for your time and
effort you have invested in me. I
appreciate your patience throughout this
presentation and your attentiveness.
Than you Mrs. Click for being very
understanding and personable
throughout this experience. I enjoyed
learning under someone so enthusiastic
and helpful.
Thank you Mom and Dad for finding
such a great mentor and pushing me to
follow my passions and interests.

Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2016.

Http://www.the42.ie/author/the42-team/. "New Concussion Technology to Debut in the
English Premiership This Season." The42. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2016.
"Infobase Learning - Login." Infobase Learning - Login. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2016.
Meier, Barry, and Danielle Ivory. "Effective Concussion Treatment Remains Frustratingly
Elusive, Despite a Booming Industry." The New York TImes. New York Times, 3 July 2015.
Web. 6 Oct. 2016.
OLSON, By ERIC. "Nebraska's New Brain Research Center Will Seek to Advance Diagnosis,
Treatment of Concussions." Star Tribune. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2016.
""Sport" and "non-sport" Concussions." "Sport" and "non-sport" Concussions. N.p., 17
May 2011. Web. 06 Oct. 2016.
Staff, By Mayo Clinic. "Post-concussion Syndrome." Treatments and Drugs. N.p., n.d. Web.
06 Oct. 2016.