Mhealth technology could improve concussion detection

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Emerging mobile health tech could also assist in the management of this medical condition following head trauma.

Concussion detection and treatment, in addition to its prevention in the first place, is becoming a new medical specialty field, and mhealth technologies are working to help to support the goals of improving overall diagnosis and treatment capabilities.

This condition brings together everything from sports medicine to neurology and tech advances have been moving quickly.

As much as mhealth and other medical technologies have been moving forward at leaps and bounds, there remains a great deal of distance that must still be traveled. New mobile health tools have been combining technology and science and are aiming to make a considerable difference in being able to detect these acute brain injuries early on. This type of detection could be a lifesaving opportunity.

Mhealth technology has been looking into the three primary categories of impact sensors, sideline assessments and biomarkers.

fans tv sports mhealthThe impact sensors come in the form of mobile devices that have accelerometers built into them. Those can record and track the degree of force experienced by the head when an impact has occurred. Some of these devices have already been built into mouth guards and helmets, while others are applied directly to the skin. These sensors are able to track the severity and frequency of hits within a span of time. This can help to determine if a single impact was strong enough to warrant a check, or if there have been several less intense impacts that could have caused a concussion due to their frequency.

The sideline assessment tools are meant to help with concussion detection when an athlete is being checked during the game as a result of what the impact sensors have reported. This can help to determine whether or not a player should be returning to the game.

The biomarkers remain in a concept and prototype phase and, unlike the other two types of mhealth tools, they are not yet being tested in the field. These would use saliva and/or blood biomarkers in order to help to conduct a screening on the sideline or during the recovery process.

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