This familiar gesture might be a sign of concussion
UC biomedical engineering professor talks about preventing brain injuries
WebMD turned to a biomedical engineering professor at the University of Cincinnati to discuss whether a player's shaking his or her head after an impact could be a possible indication of concussion.
A study by Boston University and the Concussion Legacy Foundation found that spontaneous head shaking after an impact could be an observable sign of concussion. The study was published in the National Library of Medicine.
UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Professor Eric Nauman studies concussions and other sports-related injuries in his biomedical engineering lab.
While he was not part of the head-shaking study, Nauman said researchers have found that players often try to hide concussions from coaches and sports medical staff.
“Even without a diagnosed concussion, the brain changes a lot, almost a terrifying amount, throughout the course of a football season,” Nauman told WebMD.
So if coaches and medical staff have more objective ways to diagnose concussions, they can help protect players who otherwise might feel compelled to disregard their own wellbeing.
Featured image at top: UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Professor Eric Nauman studies sports injuries in his biomedical engineering lab. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand
Related Stories
CCM welcomes Sekyung Jang as Assistant Professor of Music Therapy
June 12, 2026
UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Pete Jutras has announced the appointment of Sekyung Jang, PhD, as CCM's new Assistant Professor of Music Therapy. Her faculty appointment officially begins on Aug. 15, 2026, and Jang will work with college leadership to develop a new program in Music Therapy at CCM in partnership with UC's College of Medicine and the Osher Center for Integrative Health. Jang is an educator, scholar and music therapist passionate about fostering a culture of learning in which students feel safe to explore new ideas, make mistakes, and freely and respectfully receive and give feedback. Jang’s teaching is characterized by a balanced combination of lectures, experiential learning opportunities, and discussion-based instruction that helps students integrate theory and practice.
UC grad and Honda employee helps race team win Indy 500
June 11, 2026
UC engineering graduate JP Suozzi helped driver Felix Rosenqvist win the Indianapolis 500 as a trackside engineer with Honda Racing. While on co-op with Meyer Shank Racing, Suozzi monitored Honda engine performance at the track, contributing to the closest finish in Indy 500 history.
Taking a second look at surgery eligibility for patients with lung cancer who smoke
June 11, 2026
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine have found that patients who continue to smoke ahead of lung cancer surgery have a higher risk of pulmonary complications, but their short-term mortality rate is similar to patients who were able to stop smoking before surgery.. Their findings were published recently in the Journal of. American College of Surgeons