Virginia Tech Concussion Researcher Takes Proactive Approach To Concussions

 http://www.wdbj7.com/news/wdbj7-virginia-tech-researcher-is-making-noise-in-the-sports-industry-20130510,0,6667876.story

Virginia Tech Researcher is making Noise in the Sports Industry

 He has developed a very specific program that he says strengthens rarely used muscles in the neck and back of the head. Muscles that can be developed and keep the brain from being tossed around while playing nearly any sport.

 Dr. Cornwell has developed a very specific program that he says strengthens rarely used muscles in the neck and back of the head. Muscles that can be developed and keep the brain from being tossed around while playing nearly any sport.

Dr. Cornwell's Protocol is the only researched and evidence based contingency available to prepare athletes for the rigors of their sport.

www.concussionpreventionprotocol.com 

 

Small Beginnings Lead to Large Results

The best of ideas started  as a simple notion of how to do something better or more efficiently.

When two individuals join their ideas collectively, sometimes it can  result in something Big.

If those ideas come to fruition it can be paradigm shifting.

The NEW HEAD AND NECK MACHINE WILL CHANGE THE WAY WE LOOK AT CONCUSSION REDUCTION FOREVER.

www.concussionpreventionprotocol.com 

Looking Back.

 Looking Back.

Clinical Research Takes Time to Complete.   This Blog was Written Three Years Ago. The research process is complicated and must be approved by several organizations, The National Institute of Health and may need to be approved by at least One Institutional Review Board. 
If this type of rigor and validity is not incorporated into a True Research Study. It is not a study at all. It is opinion, conjecture or just a good guess. There is only One Evidence Based Head and Neck Training Protocol.
concussionpreventionprotocol.com 

Ralph Cornwell
 
Undergrad From University of Maryland/Radford University Va
Masters of Science from Virginia Tech
Doctor of Philosophy -Science Virginia Tech Completion Date 12/10

Former Strength Coach
Radford University
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
United States Military Academy at West Point
North Carolina Agriculture and Technology State University
West Montgomery High School, NC

Served as Sport Performance Director and Owner of 2 Sports Performance Facilities 1 in Blacksburg, Va, the other in Greensboro, NC.


I have been training on Pendulum 5-way neck for about a month and have had remarkable results. The weight has steadily gone up on the exercises, but the amazing thing is my neck circumference has increased by an inch and a half.

Never gotten those types of results from any neck machine and I have tryed them all. I am currently preparing for my Ph.D. case study which involves the question: If you increase the circumference of the neck through resistance training and increase the stiffness ratio,as soft tissue becomes stronger, along with trapezius strength increases thus reducing the deformation rate during contact(impact) would you not decrease impact forces to the head, neck area and transfer or dissipate the forces throughout the trapezius,upper back muscles and ultimately have those forces absorbed through the stronger back muscles, hip/glute area transferring those forces finally to the much stronger lower body muscles.
Also, would this not help to reduce or lessen the rate of concussion or more importantly would it not lower the subconcussive forces of small impacts that seem to cause as much or more long term damage to the athlete. Would a bigger stronger neck not raise the tipping point in which we start to see real long-term brain damage, Well, that's what I intend to find out. I will be setting up my lab at the Virginia Tech campus where I am completing my Ph.D..
The pendulum neck machine will be an intricate part of the case study and I want to share the data with all the coaches out their so we can better protect our athletes from harm. We cant' forget it all starts with the neck. The vulnerable part of the human anatomy with respect to contact sports or life in general is our cervical spine which supports the skull which incases our most important component with regards to life -our brain.

Let's Spring Into Action And Protect Athletes

The Ralph Cornwell Files

Let's Spring Into Action And Protect Athletes                                              
Ralph Cornwell is a Ph.D. candidate in health promotion/human performance at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Prior to pursuing his Doctoral Degree he was a collegiate strength coach.

Research from the best minds in the automotive safety industry  all agree, the circumference of the neck changes the way it reacts to forces applied to that area.
The former Congressional appointed Chairman of the Head  and Neck Committee put together a study on concussions and found: " Stronger necks reduce head acceleration, deltaV, and displacement. Even relatively small reductions in deltaV have a large effect on head injury criterion that may reduce concussion risks because changes in deltaV change head injury criterion through the 4th power."
Test dummies are used to simulate a human in a collision whether it is by automobile or playing sports.


How do they simulate neck strength in humans?

They change the size of the spring on the test dummies. Small to replicate a child’s neck circumference.  Medium size for female adults and large for adult males.

To simulate an athlete’s neck you have to go one step further.  The athlete’s neck is simulated by the largest and most stiff spring on a crash dummy in order to replicate the kinematics of a collision accurately.


The replicated athletic neck is more resistant to change than the mock-up normal population neck.  It  deforms less then all the simulated necks.


This is true for crash test dummies; is it not true for athletes playing sports that include collisions?
By increasing the circumference of our athlete’s necks the same result should occur. Less deformation of the cervical spine.

If this is good for test dummies, it should be good for America’s athletes risking concussion during sports. It will certainly lowers the subconcussive forces.
 
Congress calls concussions an 'American Epidemic'. Let’s start inoculating our athletes with larger stronger necks.www.concussionpreventionprotocol.com

Get The Knowledge! Protect your Athlete!

Protect Your Athletes!  Prepare them for the Contact of the Sport!  Coaches, Parents, Strength Coaches, ATC. Get the knowledge and the evidence based DVD.
WWW. concussionpreventionprotocol.com

ConcussionPreventionProtocol DVD GOES ON SALE!

www.concussionpreventionprotocol

ConcussionPreventionProtocol DVD GOES ON SALE!

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Finally It’s Here! The Concussion Prevention Protocol DVD is Ready to go.

Posted by intelligentexerciserx on February 4, 2012

SUPER BOWL SPECIAL!!!!!!

Finally, The Concussion Prevention Protocol DVD IS Here!

Concussions have become a National Epidemic.  Millions  of dollars have been spent to fund studies over the last 15 years.The research continues but the number of concussions in Athletics INCREASE Each YEAR. Something proactive needed to be done. Through our research and input from some of the greatest minds in strength and conditioning we have created the Protocol to

Protect  Your Athletes.

This Your opportunity to purchase the ONLY Evidence based CONCUSSION PREVENTION PROTOCOL DVD.

PRIORITY ONE

          The most important goal of the strength & conditioning professional is to PRUDENTLY PREPARE the individual for the rigors of the task at hand. As such, given the catastrophic consequences of a cervical spine and traumatic brain injury, the strengthening of the neck and surrounding muscular structures of the cervical spine MUST be considered PRIORITY ONE in the prescription and design  of exercise routines.

The Educational DVD and Instructional Manual will give you the knowledge and expertise to Properly strength train the musculature of the head and neck and surrounding muscle groups.

“All athletes exposed to “head impacts” (collisions, head trauma) should place the highest priority on strengthening the musculature of the neck and trapezius. Reliable and evidenced based information has been unavailable until now. Coaches, athletes, and especially parents can rely upon this manual (DVD) for the most comprehensive information available on neck development. I can without any reservation recommend this DVD for the safest and most effective methods to strengthen the neck and trapezius.”
Dan Riley                                                                                                                                                                             

Three Time Super Bowl Champion Strength Coach for the Washington Redskins
27 Year NFL Strength Coach (Washington Redskins & Houston Texans)
9 Year Collegiate Strength Coach United States Military Academy & Penn State



 Recommended For:

• Exercise Physiologists
• Strength & Conditioning Specialists
• Sport Coaches
  
• Athletic Trainers
  
• Personal Trainers
• Home Based Health Care Providers
• Physical Therapists/Physical Therapist Assistants
• Occupational Therapists/ Occupational Therapist Assistants
  
• Physical Education Instructors
• Recreation Enthusiasts
• Parents
• Registered Dieticians
• Military Fitness Staffs

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR INTRODUCTORY SALE PRICE  74.99 s&h included.
Go to www.concussionpreventionprotocol.com , optimumfitnesssonline.com or coachaprotraining.com
START PROTECTING YOUR ATHLETES TODAY!

 

Project Neck Case Study Eight Week Results

Project Neck Case Study Eight Week Results

Posted by intelligentexerciserx

Eight Weeks Of Training On The Pendulum 5 Way Head And Neck Machine
Ralph Cornwell is a Ph.D. candidate in health promotion/human performance at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Prior to pursuing his Doctoral Degree he was a collegiate strength coach

Ralph finished a pilot study on head and neck training.  The purpose is building a training model for force dissipation by increasing the circumference of the head and neck musculature.  Dissipation of force from contact will lower concussive forces and protect the athlete during play.

Most Improvement in 8 weeks

4 inch circumference increase in upper neck,
3 3/4 inch circumference change in lower neck
53. 5 pound increase in head and  neck extension
49.5 pound increase in flexion
140 lb increase in parallel grip row
261 lb increase in levator scapula/ shoulder girdle elevation barbell movement

Least  Improvement in 8 weeks

1.5 inch increase in circumference upper neck
2.5 inch increase in circumference in lower neck
125 pound increase in parallel grip row
47.5 pound increase in neck extension
44 pound increase in head and neck flexion
215 pound increase in levator scapula/ shoulder girdle elevation barbell movement



Keep in mind, the speed of movement used was 3-4 second concentric 4-5 second eccentric, there was a pause in the contracted position of 1 second or the rep was not counted.  Over the weeks of the study the form became better and the weight increases continued steadily without compromising the strictest of technique required.


WE MUST PROTECT THE ATHLETE!

Intelligent Exercise-Project Neck | LinkedIn

Intelligent Exercise-Project Neck | LinkedIn

Female Study Results

Best Only One female showed any muscle hypertrophy or muscle growth that induced neck circumference increase. The increase was 1/32 of an inch
Neck Ext 45lbs
Neck Flex 45lbs
Neutral Grip Row 185 Pounds
Bilateral Shrug 150 Pounds
Levator Scapulae 140lbs

Worst
Neck Ext 35lbs
Neck Flex 35lbs
Neutral Grip Row 140 Pounds
Bilateral Shrug 80 Pounds
Levator Scapulae 80 Pounds

Building A Weight Room

Preventative Sports Medicine Is The First Step                                                              

                                                                                                        

When You Build A Weight Room Start With The  4 or 5 Way Neck To Protect The Athlete

Preventative Sports Medicine Is The First Step In Getting Strong

Tags: Success

Myth Busters Musclebound Women

Myth Busters

 

Musclebound Women                                                                 

It was assumed in the early era of weight training that athletes would develop inelastic overdeveloped muscles.  The condition was deemed 'musclebound'.  Becoming musclebound dominated the early conversations of strength training.
The newly created position of Strength and Conditioning Coach in the 1970's was dubious.  Strength Coaches not only had to introduce players to the rigors of weight training, but also had to assure the team coaches and athletes that weights would not slow the participant nor reduce his or her athleticism.  Part of the strength and conditioning specialists job was to debunk the concept of becoming musclebound.
There are still many myths about weight training and they will persist as each generation seems to revisit the same issues.

Women in general fear becoming too big due to muscularity, especially in the head and neck region of their anatomy.  Conversely this is the very part of their musculature which will help them improve athletic performance and protect them against injury.

Ralph Cornweel Jr, a Doctoral candidate at Virginia Tech, gathered a group of courageous women from rugby, softball, dance, art majors and even a librarian  to participate in a study to strength train the Head and Neck musculature and dispel the myth about women becoming musclebound.

Exercising the lower trap on the Pendulum 3 Way Row

His goal was to use the same protocol with women that he had previously used in a study with men that elicited the remarkable gains of up to 4 inches in neck girth in 8 weeks.
After 8 weeks of training all the women who participated in the study had noteworthy strength gains without an increase of muscle size.

1 Arm Shrug on the Pendulum 5 Way Neck
"We did have a increase in circumference with one of the girls, a ballerina dancer. Her neck increased 1mm or 1/32 of an inch, 0.039 decimal inches.  She was okay with it.  All the girls are very unhappy the study is ending."

Get Strong on The Pendulum 4 Way or 5 Way Head And Neck Machine

Tags: Strength Training

Project Neck- The Female Study

Project Neck- The Female Study
According to a study published in the Journal of Athletic Training in 2007, female high school athletes suffered almost 40 percent more concussions than males did. It estimated that female players suffer about 29,000 concussions annually with boys suffering 21,000.

A new study to be published in the Journal of Athletic Training found that in high school soccer, girls sustained this type of head trauma 68 percent more often than boys. Female concussion rates in high school basketball were almost three times higher then boys and the girls took longer to return to play.

When there is an Epidemic in The United States we don’t just inoculate one section of the population we give the antidote to all that need it. In light of research and just common sense our female athletes need to be protected.

Because of physiological differences, women do not have to worry about getting ‘huge’ necks, but they can become very strong. The physics of kinetic energy dissipation applies to females as well as men. The female athlete can protect herself by strengthening the musculature around the cervical spine.







Their  training is not dissimilar then the men who train theirs. They train  the flexor, extensors and trapezius muscles that allow for increased neck stiffness and high performance moves on the playing field.




Project Neck- The female Study examines the changes both anatomically and morphologically, when resistance training is introduced.








The female subjects will follow the same protocol of their male counterparts used in Project Neck earlier this year.










Females Can Get Strong