Brain concussion - Shake it and you break it | Steven Laureys | TEDxLiège

I can't believe they never taught us anything about this in school.

9 years post TBI from football and not being treated for it properly. Not only that but I was allowed to play football the following year. I am miserable. Headaches, PTSD, depression, Anxiety, insomnia, terrible mood swings mostly anger related. I will tell you that even though I played my senior year and won a state championship. It wasn't worth it. Had I know I would have quit then and there. It isn't worth it people. No matter how much you love the sport it isn't worth the risk. I'd rather have lost a limb than had a TBI.

I am a hardcore Boxing and MMA fan, but I have to agree with this guy, no sport is worth brain damage.

What a very important talk and topic. It breaks my heart to see fighters take brain damage and get more easily knocked out the next time they fight.

100% agreed. Brain should be protected

As someone who's been involved in a lot of street fights from growing up in a poverty stricken and dangerous environment, I am very sad at the idea that all of the hits I received onto my head have significantly damaged my brain. I got out of the ghetto but the consequences of my past concussions still live with me, my attention span is poor and so is my memory, I just wish I had never been through those traumatic events, I wish I could have my brain back.

Very refreshing hearing this perspective from someone who admires and appreciates boxing and therefore wants to change the rule set, rather then someone who knows nothing about and thinks it should be abolished.

As a life long martial artist and veteran who has had over 13 TBIs from mild to severe this was informative. I had decided to donate my brain and spine to the Boston University and VA brain bank. I do this so that one day they can find better protection for our troops. I encourage and vet or combat sports practician to consider it. It took ten years after I was first asked to decide to do it because I noticed differences in my cognition and behavior. If interested look up the Concussion Legacy Foundation on how to donate or about other programs. I carry a donor card in my wallet and the military and VA no my intentions.

It's the reverberations from the punch that do the damage. helmets give the impression that no real damage is being done to a fighter because it protects against the cosmetic injury of cuts etc. but it does nothing for the 'shaking' of the brain, which is where the real risk of cte, neurological disease etc comes from

A great speech by Dr Steven Laurey. A sure pleasure to watch. Thank you so much for posting this up. A must watch for anyone recovering /have had any form of brain trauma ☺☺

This guy, Dr. Laureys really knows how to present information in an easy to understand way and it's clear he cares about the health of these athletes. I kind of wish he'd said to not have these contact sports at all though. With tackle football there's no way to avoid frequent injury to the brain, but if they aimed for the torso in boxing it might become a lot safer. I appreciate this information, thank you:)

Floyd Mayweather should be commended for his fighting style. They should change the scoring system and allow more points for hitting the body and less for hitting the head.

This is exactly what Wilder is been saying. Thx a lot Sir. God bless you

At ten years old, I scored 167 on my IQ test. After a dozen or more concussions, I process slowly and confuse easily. My reading skills continue to deteriorate along with volition. My greatest concern IS the oncoming "D" train. I have witnessed dementia in others, and personally, I don't want to go there. For me, the worst part of brain damage is that I know that I knew so much about so many things, and today my skull is slowly filling up with concrete that swallows any knowledge I had acquired in my earlier years. I suppose, eventually, this concern will become full blown terror in my dumbness.

At the end of the day, it's the individuals decision to engage in this beautiful but dangerous sport. Personally I quit boxing, just because I decide to enjoy longevity and quality in my life.

I am a retired professional MMA fighter, and golden gloves boxer. As someone who has been hit with and without head gear.. I can safely tell you head gear does not help in boxing or MMA.. it will stop you from getting cut or bruised up, but it will not stop your brain from shaking around when you get hit.. the fact is, wearing head gear adds weight to your head increasing the amount of whiplash. It also drastically limits your field of vision leading to several unnecessary blows being taken.. So, head gear is a bad idea. As for your idea of just not hitting to the head. They have that already, it’s called point sparring. But, people don’t pay millions of dollars to watch people do that. The real problem is that fighters are not paid what they are worth, and many of them have to keep fighting to survive well after their health is in decline.

educating and inspiring

wish i would've known more about concussions before i started to frequently punch myself in the head as a way to release anger and stress

Such an important conversation.

Really enjoyed this EDx Talk