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Symptoms following first-time, sports-related concussions lingered longer in female athletes
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Results from a study published in The Journal of American Osteopathic Association showed symptoms lingered longer in 11-year-old to 18-year-old female athletes with first-time, sports-related concussions compared with male athletes of the same age.
“If there is one thing we can do differently when treating concussions in adolescents, it is to ask the right questions that might illuminate those underlying conditions that were present before the injury,” John M. Neidecker, DO, lead researcher and sports concussion specialist at the Orthopaedic Specialists of North America, told Healio.com/Orthopedics. “Finding out if they are struggling with stress, anxiety or depression can provide insight in their recovery process.”
Neidecker and colleagues performed a retrospective medical analysis of 110 male athletes and 102 female athletes between the ages of 11 years and 18 years who sustained a concussion between 2011 and 2013 while playing sports. Using documented notes found in medical records, investigators calculated the length of time each athlete was symptomatic from the concussion.
Investigators found female athletes remained symptomatic for 28 days, which was significantly longer than male athletes, who were symptomatic for 11 days. When comparing age groups, investigators found no statically significant differences between female athletes and male athletes. There were no statistically significant differences seen with regard to the symptom duration for the types of sports played when researchers matched the patients for gender.
According to researchers, female athletes had a significantly greater incidence of having a history of migraines/frequent headaches prior to injury. In addition, history of mental illness between male and female athletes prior to concussion was not significantly – by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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Neidecker JM, et al. J Am Osteopath Assoc.2017;doi:10.7556/jaoa.2017.120
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