Neurobehavioral consequences of repetitive head impacts in Para swimming: A case report

I Helmich; Y Y Chang; R Gemmerich; L Rodrigo; J Funken; K M Arun; P Van de Vliet

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2023.10.015

Neurobehavioral consequences of repetitive head impacts in Para swimming: A case report

J Sci Med Sport. 2024 Jan;27(1):16-19. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2023.10.015. Epub 2023 Oct 24.

Authors

I Helmich¹, Y Y Chang², R Gemmerich², L Rodrigo², J Funken³, K M Arun⁴, P Van de Vliet⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Motor Behavior in Sports, German Sport University (GSU), Germany. Electronic address: i.helmich@dshs-koeln.de.
² Department of Motor Behavior in Sports, German Sport University (GSU), Germany.
³ Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopaedics, GSU Cologne, Germany.
⁴ Department of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, USA.
⁵ Immune-Oncological Centre Cologne, Germany.

PMID: 37923648
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2023.10.015

Abstract

Para swimmers with limb deficiency are faced with the particular situation that they must use their head to finish each competition by a hit to the wall. Repetitive head impacts may impair behavioral and brain functions. We therefore investigated neurobehavioral functions of a Para swimmer with dysmelia before and after repetitive head impacts (T1) and without (T2). Average head impact at T1 constituted 13.6 g with a mean impact force of 6689.9 N. Behavioral and brain functions decreased from pre to post at T1 but not at T2. Para swimmers with limb deficiency are therefore affected from the same consequences onto brain health that are observed after repeated sport-related concussions.

Keywords: Para swimming; Paralympic sports; Sport-related concussions.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Brain Concussion* / complications
Humans
Swimming*