dy-no-mite3000
07-18-2005, 04:28 PM
http://www.pypfirm.com/images/jpgs/areas_of_practice/brain_damage.jpg
Braindrain? A closer look at what happens when we or our fighters get knocked out.
As our sport MMA grows it moves towards the mainstreams of information channels. This has it?s ups and downs, but all in all it?s great for all participants and spectators when we get more attention and the fighters get bigger payrolls and proper recognition.
But as more attention comes, with it comes also less initally knowledgeable fans and it is our duty to inform them. We must show that our sport is no more dangerous than a game of icehockey or American football. We must show what the effects are of performing our sport so that no people can claim it?s exceeding danger or suggest legal infractions without exposing themselves as uninformed.
There is no denying that it is not a good thing to be knocked unconscious. It is also frightening to see for some people who are not familiar with it.
In both training and competition, there can be a underlying risk of being knocked out.
Therefore, it is imperative to know some things about knockouts.
What really happens physically in the event of a knockout? What risks does it bring?
How do you handle someone who?s been knocked out and makes a return to training?
The process of being knocked unconscious.
The brain is a soft and shapeable organ, concealed in the human skull and in most places protected by a thick barrier of bones. But it sits a little loose inside the head, connecting with the inside of the cranium trough enourmous amounts of nervethreads. When a punch or kick sets the head in motion and accelerates it in a direction, the brain has problems with maintaining the same speed. It?s a little bit slower, basically. This means that it is then pushed or smashed against the inside of the cranium on one side. There is also the risk of the brain being scratched against uneven patches or sharp edges on the surface of the inside of cranium.
The acute danger about being knocked out is that you can suffer a concussion or, with some bad luck, a hemorrage/bleeding. Immediate checkup and brain scan (dubbed C.A.T. scan) after a knockout is imperative. A hemmorage can bring many negative effects, ranging from lowered cognitive funcitons (intelligence functions) to permanent braindamage and death.
The accurate scientific definition of a knockout would be chemical inbalance in the brain.
Albeit the consequences can be dire indeed, it is incredibly rare to this day. No injuryrelated or knockoutrelated death has been reported in a sanctioned MMA event so far.
There is a much higher danger if there are several knockouts in consecutive order. This has been seen in professional boxer bouts, where a few boxers have been knocked out and then slammed their heads on the canvas so hard that they have had a second concussion. This can be extremely dangerous, and has caused a limited number of fatalities.
The brain tissue is usually in unchanged condition except for in very rare, severe cases of violence against the head.
The primary effect is a veritable firework of chemical substances and signals in the brain.
The hit makes all nervcells fire off signals without limits for an extremely short timeperiod.
This causes a chemical panic in the brain and can be closely likened to a epilectic seizure.
Certain cells are more or less vulnerable to this cascade of chemicals. Cells handling memory are very vulnerable.. It is also imperative that the concussion is FULLY healed before fighting again. Another concussion is extremely dangerous if the first one is not healed fully.
The fighter must not participate in any competition, sparring or other activity that involves risks of hitting the head hard.
The fighter?s response and proper safety.
A fighter who?s been knocked out seldom remembers the moment in which he was knocked out. This could have several reasons: He could?ve had a concussion which left him with memory loss. But there is also a great chance that he never saw the incoming technique.
A competent fighter is seldom knocked out by hits he/she can see coming. Small adjustments in posture, tucking the chin in, stiffening the neckmuscles etc. can usually prevent a knockout. Not remembering can probably mean that the fighter never discovered the incoming blow.
When a fighter regains consciousness, he can react in several ways. He can appear to be frightened or desoriented or try to continue fighting without realising he was knocked out.
They can also try to make a rush against an unspecified location or just lie down again.
It is not safe to assume that the fighter can maintain his balance when trying to stand up again. Many times, his balance systems are thrown offguard.
Therefore, he must be sat down or laid down on the ground for the first minutes and take it easy.
Falling over or tripping and hitting the head again can be disastrous. The fighter must not be allowed to wander away unsupervised to, for example, the toilet as there has been examples of people falling over on their way there. They should not be allowed to sleep since you can not monitor if their condition deter or if they go unconcious again.
The only thing that must be done is to take the fighter to the hospital emergency room and get him an examination, which could include a brainscan, or leave them for observation over the night.
Comeback after a knockout.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040801/sp.jpg
Reentering training after a lighter knockout is easier. Just avoid everything that causes symptoms. As soon as all symptoms are gone, it?s safe to enter training once again.
It should be clear that all concussions make you progress towards progressive braindamage, which is reminiscing of early aging/dementia. Pro boxers have been found to have a higher percentage of dementia cases, sometimes dubbed ?punch drunkness?. The great Mohammed Ali could be an example of this. This particular loss of brainsubstance is very rare among the regular populace.
Medically, it?s not suggested to ever start training the same normal way after a knockout. This of course applies to all activities and sports where there?s a risk of concussions, and they are many. As we know, all elite sports bring bigger risks. One just has to be clear which they are.
There are droves of participants who have been knocked out repeatedly and never shown any consequences.
If one still wants to comeback after a hard knockout, it has to be done slowly. Beginning with calm weightlifting and stretching, thereafter moving up to the normal training schedule.
The biggest barrier can be psychological. Having your concience taken away can be very frightening and fighters earlier known for their lack of fear in the ring can start to shy away when the risk of knockout appears in a match. Since holding back out of fear is never good in any sport, it?s not a surprise they perform worse when this happens. In this case, professional help or coaching could be needed.
It?s up to oneself whether they want to comeback after a knockout. It?s important that only the fighter is the one who makes the decision and they have to weigh in possible consequences.
As for the risks, they are never greater than in any other sport involving close contact, more likely it?s safer. Taking a look at the number of concussions per players in the NFL or NHL, the biggest risk sports concerning this are obvious.
Or as the former pro boxer Paolo Roberto said:
?In my whole career, I?ve had one concussion. Peter Forsberg (NHL player from Sweden, author?s note) has had seven. But it?s my sport that is considered dangerous.?
Let?s not forget that horseriding alone takes 14-15 lives in Europe alone every year.
The risks are everywhere. It is clear that our fighters are not extreme in any way, but professional athletes making an honest living in a great sport."
======================
This article was writen and translated by one of our favourite forum members only known as "Falero". Reps to Johan for the well written and interesting look inside the mechanics of one of our favourite ways to see a fight end.
To give FALERO some much deserved reps. CLICK HERE!!! (http://www.bloodyknux.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5329#)
Braindrain? A closer look at what happens when we or our fighters get knocked out.
As our sport MMA grows it moves towards the mainstreams of information channels. This has it?s ups and downs, but all in all it?s great for all participants and spectators when we get more attention and the fighters get bigger payrolls and proper recognition.
But as more attention comes, with it comes also less initally knowledgeable fans and it is our duty to inform them. We must show that our sport is no more dangerous than a game of icehockey or American football. We must show what the effects are of performing our sport so that no people can claim it?s exceeding danger or suggest legal infractions without exposing themselves as uninformed.
There is no denying that it is not a good thing to be knocked unconscious. It is also frightening to see for some people who are not familiar with it.
In both training and competition, there can be a underlying risk of being knocked out.
Therefore, it is imperative to know some things about knockouts.
What really happens physically in the event of a knockout? What risks does it bring?
How do you handle someone who?s been knocked out and makes a return to training?
The process of being knocked unconscious.
The brain is a soft and shapeable organ, concealed in the human skull and in most places protected by a thick barrier of bones. But it sits a little loose inside the head, connecting with the inside of the cranium trough enourmous amounts of nervethreads. When a punch or kick sets the head in motion and accelerates it in a direction, the brain has problems with maintaining the same speed. It?s a little bit slower, basically. This means that it is then pushed or smashed against the inside of the cranium on one side. There is also the risk of the brain being scratched against uneven patches or sharp edges on the surface of the inside of cranium.
The acute danger about being knocked out is that you can suffer a concussion or, with some bad luck, a hemorrage/bleeding. Immediate checkup and brain scan (dubbed C.A.T. scan) after a knockout is imperative. A hemmorage can bring many negative effects, ranging from lowered cognitive funcitons (intelligence functions) to permanent braindamage and death.
The accurate scientific definition of a knockout would be chemical inbalance in the brain.
Albeit the consequences can be dire indeed, it is incredibly rare to this day. No injuryrelated or knockoutrelated death has been reported in a sanctioned MMA event so far.
There is a much higher danger if there are several knockouts in consecutive order. This has been seen in professional boxer bouts, where a few boxers have been knocked out and then slammed their heads on the canvas so hard that they have had a second concussion. This can be extremely dangerous, and has caused a limited number of fatalities.
The brain tissue is usually in unchanged condition except for in very rare, severe cases of violence against the head.
The primary effect is a veritable firework of chemical substances and signals in the brain.
The hit makes all nervcells fire off signals without limits for an extremely short timeperiod.
This causes a chemical panic in the brain and can be closely likened to a epilectic seizure.
Certain cells are more or less vulnerable to this cascade of chemicals. Cells handling memory are very vulnerable.. It is also imperative that the concussion is FULLY healed before fighting again. Another concussion is extremely dangerous if the first one is not healed fully.
The fighter must not participate in any competition, sparring or other activity that involves risks of hitting the head hard.
The fighter?s response and proper safety.
A fighter who?s been knocked out seldom remembers the moment in which he was knocked out. This could have several reasons: He could?ve had a concussion which left him with memory loss. But there is also a great chance that he never saw the incoming technique.
A competent fighter is seldom knocked out by hits he/she can see coming. Small adjustments in posture, tucking the chin in, stiffening the neckmuscles etc. can usually prevent a knockout. Not remembering can probably mean that the fighter never discovered the incoming blow.
When a fighter regains consciousness, he can react in several ways. He can appear to be frightened or desoriented or try to continue fighting without realising he was knocked out.
They can also try to make a rush against an unspecified location or just lie down again.
It is not safe to assume that the fighter can maintain his balance when trying to stand up again. Many times, his balance systems are thrown offguard.
Therefore, he must be sat down or laid down on the ground for the first minutes and take it easy.
Falling over or tripping and hitting the head again can be disastrous. The fighter must not be allowed to wander away unsupervised to, for example, the toilet as there has been examples of people falling over on their way there. They should not be allowed to sleep since you can not monitor if their condition deter or if they go unconcious again.
The only thing that must be done is to take the fighter to the hospital emergency room and get him an examination, which could include a brainscan, or leave them for observation over the night.
Comeback after a knockout.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040801/sp.jpg
Reentering training after a lighter knockout is easier. Just avoid everything that causes symptoms. As soon as all symptoms are gone, it?s safe to enter training once again.
It should be clear that all concussions make you progress towards progressive braindamage, which is reminiscing of early aging/dementia. Pro boxers have been found to have a higher percentage of dementia cases, sometimes dubbed ?punch drunkness?. The great Mohammed Ali could be an example of this. This particular loss of brainsubstance is very rare among the regular populace.
Medically, it?s not suggested to ever start training the same normal way after a knockout. This of course applies to all activities and sports where there?s a risk of concussions, and they are many. As we know, all elite sports bring bigger risks. One just has to be clear which they are.
There are droves of participants who have been knocked out repeatedly and never shown any consequences.
If one still wants to comeback after a hard knockout, it has to be done slowly. Beginning with calm weightlifting and stretching, thereafter moving up to the normal training schedule.
The biggest barrier can be psychological. Having your concience taken away can be very frightening and fighters earlier known for their lack of fear in the ring can start to shy away when the risk of knockout appears in a match. Since holding back out of fear is never good in any sport, it?s not a surprise they perform worse when this happens. In this case, professional help or coaching could be needed.
It?s up to oneself whether they want to comeback after a knockout. It?s important that only the fighter is the one who makes the decision and they have to weigh in possible consequences.
As for the risks, they are never greater than in any other sport involving close contact, more likely it?s safer. Taking a look at the number of concussions per players in the NFL or NHL, the biggest risk sports concerning this are obvious.
Or as the former pro boxer Paolo Roberto said:
?In my whole career, I?ve had one concussion. Peter Forsberg (NHL player from Sweden, author?s note) has had seven. But it?s my sport that is considered dangerous.?
Let?s not forget that horseriding alone takes 14-15 lives in Europe alone every year.
The risks are everywhere. It is clear that our fighters are not extreme in any way, but professional athletes making an honest living in a great sport."
======================
This article was writen and translated by one of our favourite forum members only known as "Falero". Reps to Johan for the well written and interesting look inside the mechanics of one of our favourite ways to see a fight end.
To give FALERO some much deserved reps. CLICK HERE!!! (http://www.bloodyknux.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5329#)