March Newsletter
- millie.puddephatt
- Apr 8
- 4 min read
Disruptors, how nutrition impacts concussion, and the importance of stories…this month’s Concussion Toolkit Newsletter.
Our Updates
Accelerate Action – International Women’s Day
“We have a unique opportunity – not just to expand, but to lead.”
To celebrate International Women’s Day, we attended #AccelerateAction, hosted by The Professional Cricketers’ Association at Lord’s Cricket Ground. The event was both powerful and inspiring, with a diverse line-up of speakers sharing stories that reinforced the importance of standing up for what you believe in—especially when it challenges the status quo.
One particularly inspiring story came from Manjinder Nagra’s ,who became the first Sikh woman to play for England Rugby Students and went on to establish women’s and girls’ rugby at her local club. Her journey highlighted the profound impact sport can have on every aspect of people’s lives.
Want our key takeaways?
Rising Stars - the more buzz the better!
Listen to our story and where we are going. Our application for Rising Stars is not just about securing investment- it’s about sharing our journey, how we got here, and our vision for the future.
Dr Lisa Ryan (RNutr)
Speaking with Co-founder of the Irish Concussion Research Centre...
Having drawn heavily on Dr. Lisa Ryan’s research for our master’s dissertation, we were thrilled to meet her in person at the Concussed event! Last week, we had the opportunity to speak with her, and the intersection of her expertise in nutrition and concussion made for a fascinating discussion on how we can better protect ourselves.
One particularly interesting area of her research examines the connection between gut health and concussion, highlighting that gastrointestinal issues may be an overlooked symptom of concussion—especially in women.
Key tips and tricks:
Prioritise Nutrition – Pre- and post-concussion nutrition plays a crucial role in recovery. Emerging research suggests it can significantly impact outcomes.
Boost Omega-3 Intake – Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for improving concussion recovery. You can find them in fish, oils, nuts, seeds, and vitamin supplements.
Optimise Sleep – Sleep is vital not just for recovery but also for nutrition and overall health. Poor sleep affects cortisol levels, which can influence food choices and mood. Prioritising quality sleep can support better nutrition and aid concussion recovery.
Stay Hydrated – Dehydration can negatively affect concussion outcomes. Make sure you’re well-hydrated before and during sport—there’s a halftime break for a reason!
Nutrition and hydration are key to concussion management. Fuel and hydrate properly before, during, and after playing to support your recovery and performance!
To find out more about Dr Lisa Ryan’s research, click here.
News Page
Women's 6 Nations Kick off!
Saturday 22 March - Saturday 26 April
After an eventful Men’s 6 Nations, super excited that the Women’s 6 nations kicked off last weekend!
Can the Red Roses do it again? We sure think so after the score line against Italy!
Catch all matches on BBC.
This Saturday catch England V Wales at 16:45pm.
Concussion - It's not just a contact sport problem.
It took GB cyclist a year to get over his concussion
Great Britain cyclist Rhys Britton has opened up about the challenges of his concussion recovery, highlighting just how unpredictable the journey can be. Unlike other injuries, concussion doesn’t follow a strict timeline—Britton lost a year of his career to it, and he’s not alone.
It is so important to see elite athletes sharing their concussion stories and highlighting to the public the impact it can have. It took Britton a year to get over his concussion – this is not isolated to elite athletes. One of our participants missed 3 months of work because of their concussion. Concussion isn’t just an issue in sports – it’s a health issue that can affect careers, education and daily life if it is not taken seriously.
All sports need clear concussion guidelines, and we all need to be aware of the ups and downs of recovery. Education and awareness are key to supporting those affected.
This Month's Thoughts
Why does concussion advice need to be user-centred?
Moving on from why concussion education is important …let’s talk about our 2nd key insight: User-centered.
Awareness, education and guidance about concussion needs to be relevant and applicable to the user– or they will go back to sport or work too soon (I’m speaking from experience!)
Our interviews and focus groups with university students, highlighted that government concussion guidance felt vague, lacked empathy and disconnected from students’ realities.They ha d deadlines to meet, were living independently for the first time and did not want to miss out on university experience.
Concussed student-athletes rated academic support as their highest need, far above return to play (Graph 1). This highlighted distinct priorities for students compared to those outlined in government guidelines.
“I was told to rest and not look at screens, but I had exams starting in two weeks.” UoB Student Athlete (2024)
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