Washington brain injury patients and trauma caused over time

Washington residents may be interested in a Stanford University study that examined the relationship between traumatic brain injuries and small hits to the brain. When the brain is bashed against the inside of the skull multiple times, the small injuries can have large cumulative effects. Unlike larger hits, however, they do not produce concussions. These injuries are common in contact sports such as football.

Every year, an estimated 1.7 million people in the United States sustain traumatic brain injuries. Of those, 80 percent are mild with no concussion. Severe external force trauma does not cause most mild traumatic brain injuries. Instead, these injuries most often result from the inertia of the brain as it collides with the skull after the head comes to an abrupt stop.

Researchers found that the typical rate of movement for normal actions, such as turning one’s head, is 5 hertz. The brain can be damaged at 15 hertz, and contact sports can cause it to move at 20 hertz. While concussive injuries occur in an instant, inertia-related brain injuries can happen multiple times over the course of a game. These injuries build up and cause cumulative brain damage as the brain rattles inside the skull. Researchers hoped that the findings could inform future protective helmets to prevent the brain from moving at dangerous speeds inside the skull.

Anyone who has sustained traumatic brain injuries caused by another party may be eligible for personal injury compensation. Traumatic injuries can cause serious neurological difficulties that may result in high medical bills or even the inability to continue working as usual. A personal injury lawyer may help victims receive the compensation for the medical expenses and lost wages caused by their injuries.

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