FEMALES HAVE SLOWER RECOVERY FROM CONCUSSION
NEW BRAINTREE, MA May 22, 2012 According to a Blog written by Prithvi Narayan, M.D. there are over 1.6 million sports-related concussions annually. The recovery from concussion of female athletes has been shown to be different from their male counterparts. Soccer has the highest rate of concussions among female athletes. "The female players I have followed have been at greater risk for second injury and generally have a slower recovery than male athletes" according to Michael Sefton, Ph.D. This may result from an increase in competition among woman athletes at younger ages than ever. "I have worked with students as young as 15 who are competing against woman in their late teens and early twenties who are trying to showcase their ability. Truthfully, the difference in body mass is considerable leaving the younger athlete in a competitive disadvantage and at greater risk for concussion" said Michael Sefton. In the last generation female athletes have had greater opportunity to compete for Division I scholarship money and increased brain injury due to concussion may be the trickle down effect. After soccer, basketball and lacrosse have been identified as having the highest rate of concussions among high school athletic teams on which girls play. Female lacrosse players do not wear helmets because checking is not permitted in woman's lacrosse.
In an article published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine young female athletes are more vulnerable than males and even older female athletes. The reason for this may be linked to higher force to body mass in the neck musculature and perhaps upper body that allows greater whiplash to the head of female athletes. Another hypothesis includes better reporting accuracy among female athletes who may not be predisposed to hide symptoms of concussion as their male counterparts sometimes do.
It is no less important to allow females to recover before returning to the field than males. As a consultant in brain injury I recommend 1-2 weeks of rest - inactivity means no physical exertion, no texting, video games, even loud movies can put a tax on the recovering cognitive system. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests a 4 week recovery period after being diagnosed with concussion prior to returning to play. The important issue becomes whether or not the athlete's brain has quieted and is working at it's baseline before the controlled 'start up' being recommended. I have blogged about this in the past. No player should return from concussion early simply because the team on which they are playing has a match against a division rival or an important tournament has been scheduled. Readers may be surprised how often I am asked to allow an injured player to return to play early because of an "important league game" or to attend a distant tournament out of state. In coming blogs I am going to write about the role of parents in recovery from concussion so please check back again soon. Check the website for baseline testing opportunities at www.concussionassessment.com.
Michael Sefton, Ph.D.
It is no less important to allow females to recover before returning to the field than males. As a consultant in brain injury I recommend 1-2 weeks of rest - inactivity means no physical exertion, no texting, video games, even loud movies can put a tax on the recovering cognitive system. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests a 4 week recovery period after being diagnosed with concussion prior to returning to play. The important issue becomes whether or not the athlete's brain has quieted and is working at it's baseline before the controlled 'start up' being recommended. I have blogged about this in the past. No player should return from concussion early simply because the team on which they are playing has a match against a division rival or an important tournament has been scheduled. Readers may be surprised how often I am asked to allow an injured player to return to play early because of an "important league game" or to attend a distant tournament out of state. In coming blogs I am going to write about the role of parents in recovery from concussion so please check back again soon. Check the website for baseline testing opportunities at www.concussionassessment.com.
Michael Sefton, Ph.D.
