A couple of the speakers at the Concussions 101 conference in Hamilton on the weekend were graduates from the school of hard knocks.
Both head athletic therapist Chris Puskas of the McMaster Marauders and Scotty Martin, a member of the Vanier Cup-winning Mac football team of 2011, say they still suffer post-concussion symptoms. Their advice is to take injuries to the brain very seriously.
Held at McMaster Innovation Park, Concussions 101 was hosted by the alumni associations of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Canadian Football League. It was billed as a what you need to know as an athlete, trainer, coach or administrator.
Before coming to Mac, Puskas was the head therapist of the CFLs Hamilton Ticats for 14 seasons. He also worked for the Toronto Argonauts for three seasons. Playing sports in the Sudbury area while growing up, he estimates by todays standards he probably had nearly a dozen concussions. He was hospitalized twice and knocked unconscious on another occasion.
RELATED: Concussions 101 takes heads to heart
We didnt know then what we know now, Puskas said in an interview after the four-hour information session attended by about 50 people. When I look back on it and think of all the bell-ringers that Ive had and played through
Im not sure I would treat my athletes any differently, but experiencing it yourself certainly makes you aware of how severe the consequences can be. Its kind of scary.
According to 41-year-old Puskas, he was feeling rough for about four days recently after diving for a ball while playing soccer with his children. He says he regularly experiences the cumulative effects of his concussions.
Little things every day, he said, like bending down to tie my shoes or looking up over my head. I cant lay flat. My head has to be elevated if Im lying on my back. Or, if I was even to get hit lightly by the kids when theyre having a pillow fight, I would be off for a period of time.
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Conference at McMaster discusses serious issue of concussions
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