Citation

Kay MC, Welch CE, Valovich McLeod TC. J. Sport Rehab. 2014; 24(2): 210-213.

Affiliation

Athletic Training Program, A.T. Still University, Mesa, AZ.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Human Kinetics Publishers)

DOI

10.1123/jsr.2013-0132

PMID

24458373

Abstract

Concussions are one of the most common sport-related injuries affecting athletes participating at all levels across a variety of sports. It has been reported that up to 3.8 million concussive events occur per year that are sports-related. One significant issue with identifying concussions is that a clinical diagnosis is based on the presence of signs and symptoms, which are self-reported by the patient. In the adolescent population, injury to the brain is possible with even the slightest insult, which can affect recovery and predispose them to subsequent concussions. Recent legislative efforts have included athlete education as a means to improve concussion reporting. More specifically, 49 of the 50 states have implemented concussion legislation3 that includes some type of concussion education protocol, but there is still little evidence to suggest that enhanced knowledge levels result in behaviour changes, including improved concussion reporting practices. It is unclear as to what factors make an adolescent athlete more or less likely to report the symptoms of a concussion. CLINICAL QUESTION: What factors positively or negatively influence secondary school athletes' likelihood to report symptoms of sport-related concussions?

Language: en