Concussions
You’re not suppose to talk about crashing in cycling but since a handful of the best riders have already hit the deck in this year’s Tour we have license to tackle the topic.
I hit the deck twice a few months ago. DDA coach Matt Chatlaong just crashed and broke his wrist last week. It happens. Beyond the road rash and broken bones, a recent study caught my attention. Here is a brief summary
- Previous research has shown the effects of a concussion can persist “well beyond observed clinical recovery”.
- Recent research demonstrated that concussed athletes had a 3.4X greater risk (in the 90 days post concussion) of lower body injury than their “non-concussed” peers
What does this mean for you? If you’ve crashed and sustained anything close to what you might suspect is a concussion, you should take significant time off the bike to make sure you’ve recovered.
Here is a great document to reference (or have a loved one read through) in the event you’ve crashed. Absorb it, be conservative in getting back on the bike, and recognize you might be putting your life in danger if you start riding too soon after a concussion.
Blog Update: In Sickness and Health
I recently returned from competing in the 2017 World Transplant Games in Malaga, Spain where I had an incredible experience sharing friendship and community with the best transplant athletes in the world.
Two years ago I had the opportunity to compete in the same event in Argentina, but this year was extra special as my wife was also able to come.
Head directly to our latest post on the 2017 World Transplant Games by clicking here. As always, thanks for reading!
Nate Dunn
Founder/Head Coach
Data Driven Athlete