MMA Fighters Travel Across Country To Irving Post-Concussion Center
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IRVING (CBSDFW.COM) – A local post-concussion therapy center in Irving is taking an interesting approach at finding treatments for head injuries.
Cerebrum Health Centers in Irving has recently seen a spike in Mixed Martial Arts fighters from across the country as their patients.
The assessments they do on those athletes brains are providing researchers plenty of new data and information in treating head traumas.
"By my count I have had eight pretty serious concussions," said Retired MMA fighter and UFC champion Rich Franklin.
Franklin has traveled from Cincinnati, OH to Cerebrum in hopes of finding out what kind of long term effect fighting has had on his brain.
He added, "This will help perhaps be preventative with some problems that I could possibly have down the road but help other people as well."
Doctors at Cerebrum said they are studying the MMA fighters brains because many may have worst case scenario type injuries.
This in turn allows them to effectively know what works and what doesn't when treating different levels of concussions.
"It's the accumulation of trauma that we find that ends up being the net result worst case scenario," said Dr. Brandon Brock from CHC.
Guy Mezger, another former MMA fighter who is also being treated at CHC said, "We tend to be a little more exaggerated than certain injuries, but the healing process is still the same thing."
Researchers at CHC said the lessons they learn from treating injuries to the MMA fighter's brains will go a long way in understanding best healing practices for other types of concussions.
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