‘Be very careful’ - head injury victims warn of concussion risk

Each year, around 35,000 New Zealanders are affected by a concussion or traumatic brain injury. But ACC only receives claims for around 22,000, which means a large number of people aren’t being checked.

Watch the full story on TVNZ+

While sport is a factor, the majority of concussions are actually due to falls and other everyday activities.

Last week, a teenager died in Palmerston North after he received a head injury playing a tackle game with friends.

That game’s been linked to a new high impact collision sport trending on social media called run it or run it straight which has faced widespread criticism.

Re: News spoke to Ruawai Te Rata (Ngāti Wehi Wehi) and Mikalah Che (Ngāruahine, Ngāti Ruanui, Te Atiawa, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Kahungunu) about their experiences with concussions.

Ruawai sustained her concussion while surfing alone at Piha at the start of this year. Since then she has found it challenging to return to work.

Her incident was so bad, her face left a mark on her surfboard.

“I think people should be very careful.”

She says the recovery journey is full of days that are great and days that aren’t great.

But she says the most important lesson she’s learned is how important her head is.

“I will be hesitant to do certain sports that are risky for me to potentially hit my head again, because it’s not fun.”

Professor of Human Performance at AUT Patria Hume is against the run it or run it straight competition and has done lots of research on the matter.

She focuses on sports performance biomechanics and sports injury prevention, using biomechanics to evaluate injury mechanisms.

Her research shows running towards someone at full speed has the same impact as falling off a roof of a house. Another example shows a knock to the head at that speed has five times the force of a professional boxer's punch.

“These events should be considered assault.”

Mikalah has had five concussions, one so extreme she spent a week in hospital and had to learn how to walk again.

Her concussions didn’t only affect her physically but also mentally.

She was diagnosed with depression, anxiety, social anxiety and avoidance anxiety.

“I lost a lot of friends not being able to socialise or explain myself to others.”

You can watch the full video on TVNZ+ now.