...

The Wim Hof

Method
As Pre and Post Concussion Therapy
 ...

Concussion Effects
Inflammatory processes induced by concussive TBI [1]
Impaired cerebral blood flow [2]
Suboptimal cerebrospinal fluid waste clearance [3,4,5]
Symptoms: headache, impaired memory, confusion [6]

Importance of Fluid Dynamics

Optimize brain fluid dynamics before and after potential injury activities [7]
CSF responsible for waste clearance via glymphatic system [8, 9]
CSF movement driven by respiratory rhythm and strength [10,11]

Cerebral Blood Flow

Compromised flow to injury area contributes to inflammation [12]
Inverse relationship between CSF volume and cerebral blood volume (CBV) [13]
 ...

Wim Hof Method (WHM) Hypothesis

WHM breathing could enhance brain waste clearance and induce neurovascular
plasticity [14,15]
Inspiration increases CSF volume and causes arterial vasoconstriction [16]
WHM involves deep inspirations, full exhalation, and sustained breath retention (30+
seconds)
Breath retention leads to cerebral arterial vasodilation, increasing CBV and CSF
drainage [17,18]

Neurological Therapeutic Benefits

Intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia exposure benefits, similar to WHM breathing [19]
Elevated NGF in CSF indicates favorable neurological recovery [20]
Breathing exercises increase salivary NGF expression and cognitive function post-
stroke [21,22]
 ...

Conclusion
WHM could accelerate neurological recovery post-concussion by improving blood
flow, enhancing waste clearance, increasing neuroplastic response via NGF
upregulation, reducing neural inflammation, and optimizing neurogenesis effects.
 References
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