Gender and prior history affect postconcussion recuperation in soccer players

ORLANDO, Fla. — A study of male and female soccer players has found that female soccer players with a history of concussion recuperate from the injury differently than men or women with no prior concussions.

"A history of concussion and gender may account for significant differences in postconcussive testing in soccer players," Alexis Chiang Colvin, MD, said at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine 2008 Annual Meeting, here. "These differences do not appear reflective of size differences and may be related to other factors that deserve further study."

For the investigation, Colvin and colleagues from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center followed 234 high school, collegiate and professional soccer players (61% female) who underwent computer-based neurophysiologic testing within 14 days of having a concussion. Forty-three percent of the group had a history of a prior concussion.

Univariate analysis of the data collected revealed that soccer players who had a history of concussion performed more poorly on the recent tests of verbal memory, processing speed, and reaction time, Colvin reported.

"When we looked at data between the genders, there were no differences in demographics including, age, education, number of concussions, time between injury and testing and body mass index," Colvin said.

In comparing gender in terms of the results of the computerized testing, they found that women performed significantly poorer than the men.

"There was a significant difference in terms of memory testing," she said. "Specifically, those with a history [of concussion] performed significantly worse."

For more information:
Colvin AC, Mullen JR, Lovell M, et al. Effect of concussion history and gender on neurocognitive testing in concussed soccer players. Presented at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine 2008 Annual Meeting. July 10-13, 2008. Orlando, Fla.