NFL Quarterback’s Headshake Uncovers Hidden Concussions: Could This Save Lives?
A subtle headshake seen in Tua Tagovailoa could change how concussions are diagnosed, with researchers urging sports to take action. 🌐 #News #BostonMA #Massachusetts #Sports
BOSTON, MA – A subtle headshake might be the overlooked clue doctors and coaches need to catch concussions that often go undiagnosed. Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s infamous hit on September 25, 2022, and his rapid head movement afterward, is at the heart of a groundbreaking study.
Researchers from the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) and Mass General Brigham say they’ve identified a pattern of behavior, previously dismissed, as a potential concussion sign. Named the Spontaneous Headshake After a Kinematic Event (SHAAKE), this movement has been observed in athletes but never formally studied—until now.
Tagovailoa’s Injury Sheds Light on a Critical Oversight
Tagovailoa’s case is a cautionary tale. After hitting his head on the ground, the quarterback shook his head twice before stumbling and collapsing. Despite these visible signs, team doctors attributed his fall to a prior back injury. He was allowed to return to the field days later, where he suffered another hit, lost consciousness, and had to be taken away on a stretcher.
Chris Nowinski, PhD, CLF CEO and co-founder, explains: “Coaches, medical professionals, and concussion spotters should be trained to recognize when a SHAAKE happens and remove athletes for further assessment. It’s an easy change, with no downside, that could prevent catastrophic outcomes and save careers.”
The study suggests that had SHAAKE been recognized during the initial incident, doctors would have had clearer evidence that his imbalance stemmed from concussion-related ataxia rather than a back problem.
What the Study Reveals About SHAAKE
The research team, led by Nowinski and senior author Dan Daneshvar, MD, PhD, Chief of Brain Injury Rehabilitation at Spaulding Rehabilitation and Harvard Medical School, surveyed 347 current and former athletes aged 18 to 29. Participants watched video examples of SHAAKE and reflected on their experiences.
Key findings include:
- 69% of surveyed athletes reported exhibiting SHAAKE.
- Of those, 72% had been diagnosed with a concussion afterward.
- For football players, 92% of reported SHAAKEs were associated with a concussion.
- Athletes recalled experiencing SHAAKE a median of five times throughout their lives.
Daneshvar highlights the significance: “Based on our data, SHAAKE is a reliable signal that a concussion may have occurred, like an athlete clutching their head after contact, being slow to get up, or losing their balance.”
Understanding Why Athletes Exhibit SHAAKE
Athletes in the study described several sensations linked to SHAAKE:
- 25% mentioned disorientation or confusion.
- 23% felt they needed to “jumpstart their brain.”
- 14% reported changes in their perception of space or their body’s position.
Other symptoms included headaches, dizziness, and visual or auditory disturbances—all common signs of concussion.
However, the study acknowledges some limitations. Many participants relied on memory, which introduces the potential for recall bias. Additionally, most respondents were from North America, leaving room for further research across different populations.
A Small Action, Big Impact
Robert Cantu, MD, CLF medical director and co-author, emphasizes the importance of recognizing SHAAKE: “Studies consistently show that an unacceptably high number of concussions are not voluntarily reported by athletes, either because they don’t realize they have a concussion or because, in the heat of the moment, they don’t want to be removed from the game.”
The research team believes adding SHAAKE to concussion protocols is a crucial step in protecting athletes. When a split-second headshake could mean the difference between safety and serious injury, no potential sign should go unnoticed. Implementing this new standard could be the key to safeguarding athletes’ futures—one headshake at a time.
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