Pirates install brain scanner to monitor player brain health
This is an extract from a www.thetimes.co.uk article by David Hands
The Cornish Pirates have installed a portable brain scanner into their new medical centre which allows them to monitor in real time whether any of their players could be experiencing short or long-term damage to their brains — concussion and dementia being huge issues in the game.
Cold-water swimming has also been incorporated into their training and recovery sessions. Recent scientific studies suggest that “cold-shock” protein found in the blood of regular winter swimmers could slow the onset of dementia.
If, as expected, a planned Stadium for Cornwall does go ahead, with the build starting as early as next year, the Pirates will go a step further by providing the nation’s first specialist stadium-based Sports Concussion Unit in the new facility.
Pirates will go a step further by providing the nation’s first specialist stadium-based Sports Concussion Unit in the new facility.