Concussion

-- Spin Dizzy -- · Posted: Feb 03, 2003 5:10 am Post subject: Concussion

At the moment I'm working on a roll to blind and while I was trying it on the weekend I took a big fall, when I caught the heel side edge and gave my self a major concussion. I was on antiinflammatories & pain killers and had to have 3 days off work with a raging headache and a body that felt like I had been hit by a truck. Not to mention the whiplash. Now while I'm ok but the dumb thing was I had a helmet in the boat.
The only reason I didn't have it on is because my mates said "why are you wearing that thing were not hitting sliders today" Basically I just wanted to remind people that you are not a Taco Bell Chalupa if you wear a helmet. But you might be an idiot if you don't. Well that all. Cheers. Embarassed

project3060 · Newbie Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 25 City: Gainesville

I knock myself out totally last Feb and was face down in the water. My son pulled me out and fortunately all I had was a concusion. I wore a helmet for the most of last year but then started having problems with the helmet bucketing on me and giving my neck a good tugg on falls. Because of that I didn'y wear it during the later part of the season. Now I wear the helmet in the winter and when I'm trying new stuff. I also got a lot of comments from people about wearing the helmet when your not hitting sliders. Just ignore the comments and protect the head.

Watarski · Posted: Feb 03, 2003 8:20 am Post subject:

Maybe I'm not understanding, but couldn't you still get a concussion with a helmet on? Especially if the helmet is "bucketing"? I would think if you catch an edge hard enough, and the helmet is not tight on your head, you could still injure yourself. Am I off base????

craig

-- Spin Dizzy -- · Posted: Feb 03, 2003 8:22 am Post subject:

are you ok now though?
Yeah i am fairly sure that i will keep my brain bucket on every time i ride from now on! Because i try new stuff or am going super hard so it super hurts when i fall.

-- Spin Dizzy -- · Posted: Feb 03, 2003 8:29 am Post subject:

Well i dont believe that the impact would have been half as bad as it was had i been wearing the helmet. Sure i prob would have had whiplash and my body hurting but the blinding headaches after being completely knocked out would have been avoided!

project3060 · Newbie Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 25 City: Gainesville

I'm ok now, but I have had 4-5 concussions over the years (only 2 from wakeboarding) so I tend to try be carefull. I'm not sure a helmet would prevent a concusion totally but would lessen the impact. The trade off from my experience is that with a helmet you get some amount of head protection at the expense of higher chance of whip lash from the helmet dragging more in the water.

Watarski · Posted: Feb 03, 2003 8:48 am Post subject:

Ok. I just haven't thought about freeriding with one on. I appreciate the responses guys.

craig

derrick · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 723 City: Orlando

Don't want to start this arguement up again, BUT I don't think anybody has proven the impact vs. surface area of a helmet. In other words, nobody has proven that a helmet helps with non slider wakeboarding concussions because a helmet gives your head increased surface area to the water making your head slow down faster when it hits, and the padding hasn't been proved to completely counter act it.
peace
Derrick

criminally_minded · Posted: Feb 03, 2003 8:58 pm Post subject:

Personally I think that helmets don't help and may even make a non-slider crash worse. Anytime I fall wearing a helmet it hurts a lot more, especially around the ears. But they are vital on sliders.

WakeMeUp · Outlaw Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 125 City: Sherbrooke, Qc

helmets have nothing to do with concussion when it's not hitting a hard surface like a kicker or a slider... well maybe it can disperse water a little better but I wouldn't rely on this... if you want to get away from cuncussion, wear a mouth piece... it's most of the time the claping of your jaw that gives a cuncussion... get one made by a denturologist... it doesn't cost that much and it'll be molded to your mouth... so that way it wont be comming out easily on hard crashes... next summer I'm getting one...