Do Roller Coasters Cause Brain Injuries?

Going to an amusement park and taking a ride on the kiddie roller coaster is a fun experience whether you’re a child or an adult. Every year, 300 million people ride roller coasters. It’s a common experience.

However, the loop-de-loops and upside-down roller coasters may give you pause. You may feel scared. You may feel like vomiting. You may even worry about a possible brain injury.

You may have seen articles and statistics linking brain injuries to roller coasters. While there have been rare cases of injuries, there is no conclusive evidence that going on a roller coaster of any type will cause you to suffer a brain injury.

To prove this, Stanford researchers outfitted two men with mouth guards equipped to measure head movement. The men engaged in several activities. They took three roller coaster rides at an amusement park, seated side-by-side, to reduce potential variation in the data. For comparison, one man also completed 14 soccer headers, while both men went for a three-minute jog while wearing the mouth guards.

The researchers used mathematical models to see if the movements they measured during these activities could cause brain problems. In general, roller coaster rides were less likely to cause harm than soccer headers. However, riding a roller coaster did exert more force on the brain than jogging.

The researchers did see a large degree of variation between the two men, so it can be assumed that the dangers of roller coasters may not be the same for everyone. One person may not be affected by roller coasters at all, while someone else may suffer long-term brain damage from riding one.

What About Headaches?

While a ride on a roller coaster may not cause a traumatic brain injury, it could cause a major headache. Again, this will depend on the person, but some roller coasters are more likely than others to put the body under high levels of stress and strain. The jerky movements can greatly impact the head and brain, which can result in headaches and migraines.

These headaches may be short-lived, going away after taking some painkillers and getting some rest. However, in some people, the damage is more long-term. A headache could be a sign of a concussion or head trauma. Concussions are especially common among adolescents.

Dizziness and motion sickness are also common after riding a roller coaster. Motion sickness occurs when the brain receives conflicting signals from spatial orientation senses. The main symptoms include:

• Cold sweats
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Paleness in the face

Contact Us Today

While roller coasters affect everyone differently, you should be safe going on a normal roller coaster ride.

However, the risk is not exactly zero. Freak accidents and defects do happen. Seek legal help from a Mt. Juliet brain injury lawyer from The Law Offices of Christopher Eads, PLLC if you have been affected. We understand the possible long-term effects and damages of a brain injury. Schedule a consultation today by calling (615) 622-6060 or filling out the online form.

Source:

scopeblog.stanford.edu/2018/08/16/this-is-your-brain-on-roller-coasters/