American Medical Society for Sports Medicine
For Immediate Release Apr 16, 2008

OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS:  Christopher Giza, MD, PhD, delivered a featured lecture at the 2008 Rendezvous II Annual Meeting held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Giza’s talk entitled “Neuroendocrine Dysfunction Following Concussion” provided a scientific basis for post concussion signs and symptoms.

His research demonstrated that concussion results in a complex chemical cascade within the brain that triggers dysfunction of the nerve cells without killing them. This cascade then leads to problems in the normal function of the brain, leaving the brain vulnerable to future injury, either acutely or over time as an accumulation of mild injuries. Given this chemical dysfunction after concussion, proper timing of return to activity after concussion is critical to avoid permanent, potentially fatal brain damage.

Dr Giza is an Assistant Professor In-Residence, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Brain Injury Research Center, and Mattel Children’s Hospital. His research is aimed primarily at understanding the consequences of traumatic brain injury to the developing brain. His laboratory research investigates molecular and cellular changes following traumatic brain injury with regard to abnormal neurotransmission, experience-dependent plasticity, posttraumatic seizures and cognitive outcome. Dr. Giza is a past winner of the UCLA Brain Injury Research Center Young Investigator Award.

The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) was organized in 1991 by physicians who recognized the need for an organization within the field of sports medicine that approached athletes, exercising individuals and teams comprehensively with consultative and continuous care of their orthopedic, medical, nutritional and psychosocial issues. Although sports medicine concepts are often thought of in conjunction with professional and elite athletes, these concepts apply to athletes of all levels including grade school, high school, college and recreational athletes. AMSSM is comprised of over 1000 Sports Medicine Physicians whose goal is to provide a link between the rapidly expanding core of knowledge related to sports medicine and its application to patients in a clinical setting.

NOTE: For more information, please contact the AMSSM, 11639 Earnshaw, Overland Park, KS 66210, (913) 327-1415.