Rebecca Rusch, a seven-time world champion adventure athlete and founder of the Be Good™ Foundation, shares her harrowing experience of a serious biking accident that led to a concussion. Alongside Christopher Vaughan, a pediatric neuropsychologist, they dive into the complexities of concussion recovery. Rusch discusses her ongoing healing journey, the vital role of specific nutrients like omega-3s, and the shift towards active rehabilitation instead of traditional rest. They emphasize the importance of understanding triggers and personalizing recovery strategies for improved brain health.
Rebecca Rusch's accident highlights the severe physical and emotional impacts of concussions, emphasizing their often invisible nature and the importance of support from loved ones.
The podcast underscores the necessity of addressing both physical and cognitive symptoms during concussion recovery, advocating for a balanced approach of rest and light activity instead of complete immobilization.
Rebecca's journey reveals the challenges in accessing proper medical care for concussion management, highlighting the need for knowledgeable healthcare providers who can offer tailored treatment plans.
Deep dives
Rebecca Rush's Journey and the Impact of Her Crash
Rebecca Rush, a renowned endurance athlete, recounts her harrowing experience of a serious mountain biking accident. During a solo biking adventure on the Coconino Trail in Arizona, she clipped her handlebar on a rock and was thrown into a ravine, resulting in a concussion and other injuries. Despite her expertise and resilience, this crash marked the beginning of a long and challenging path to recovery that continues to this day. Rebecca's story highlights not just the physical toll of concussion but also the profound emotional and cognitive struggles that can arise from such an injury.
Understanding the Invisible Injury
Concussions are often referred to as 'invisible injuries' because their effects are not immediately apparent to others. Rebecca emphasizes the difficulty of conveying her ongoing struggles with family and friends who cannot see her symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, and mood changes. The stigma surrounding brain injuries can lead individuals to hide their conditions, fearing judgment or misunderstanding. Rebecca's journey of learning to communicate her needs and educate those around her demonstrates the importance of breaking the silence and seeking support.
The Role of Rest and Recovery
Initially, Rebecca attempted to adhere to conventional wisdom that prescribed rest following a concussion. However, she soon learned that complete rest could exacerbate her symptoms, and that movement was crucial for her recovery. The podcast highlights the importance of a balanced approach to healing a brain injury; rest is necessary, but so is engaging in light physical activity. As Rebecca navigated her recovery, she discovered the value of finding what movements worked for her, countering feelings of lethargy and anxiety.
Finding the Right Support and Treatment
Throughout her recovery, Rebecca faced challenges in accessing appropriate care for her concussion symptoms. Traditional medical guidance often fell short, leaving her to navigate her recovery largely on her own. It wasn't until she consulted with specialists who understood concussion management that she began to receive the targeted help she needed. The podcast emphasizes the importance of seeking out knowledgeable healthcare providers who recognize the complexities of concussion and can tailor treatment plans to individual needs.
The Journey of Healing Through Movement
Rebecca's recovery journey illustrates that movement plays a vital role in healing from a concussion. Initially fearing physical activity would worsen her symptoms, she learned that exercise could actually alleviate some of her challenges. The podcast discusses the positive effects of engaging in gentle activities like walking and yoga, which can foster both physical and mental resilience. By embracing movement, Rebecca was able to create a healthier and more balanced approach to her overall well-being.
On November 11th, 2021, on day three of a solo multi-day ride on Arizona’s Coconino Trail, seven-time world champion adventure athlete Rebecca Rusch clipped her handlebars on a protruding rock, launching her from her bike and into a ravine 10 feet below, where she hit the ground with enough force to bounce multiple times, breaking her helmet and badly bruising her ribs. After self-rescuing off the trail, Rebecca did what pretty much everyone told her to do: rest up and recover. Her ribs mended. Her brain, which had clearly been concussed, didn't. Now, going on three years later, we revisit the crash, what she did in the immediate aftermath, and how experts are thinking about the acute phases of concussion recovery today.
Rebecca Rusch is an adventure athlete, 7x World Champion, and 2x Hall of Fame inductee for mountain biking and gravel cycling. She is also a keynote speaker, the bestselling author of Rusch to Glory, and an Emmy Award winner for the documentary Blood Road about her journey to find the spot where her father, a US Air Force pilot, was shot down during the Vietnam War. She is also the founder of the Be Good™ Foundation, which is dedicated to transforming individuals and communities by using the bicycle as a catalyst for healing, empowerment, and evolution. You can learn more about her and her work at rebeccarusch.com.
This episode also features an interview with Christopher Vaughan, Psy.D., who presented on Rest and the Treatment of Concussion at the 12th Annual Sports Neuropsychology Society Symposium earlier this year. Dr. Vaughan is a pediatric neuropsychologist in the Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology at Children’s National Hospital. He is also Associate Professor, in the departments of Pediatrics & Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at George Washington University School of Medicine, and is Fellow and Treasurer, at the Sports Neuropsychology Society. You can learn more about him and his work at Christopher Vaughan, Psy.D.