@article{ref1,
title="Sex differences in time to return-to-play progression after sport-related concussion",
journal="Sports health",
year="2017",
author="Stone, Sarah and Lee, Bobby and Garrison, J. Craig and Blueitt, Damond and Creed, Kalyssa",
volume="9",
number="1",
pages="41-44",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Recently, female sports participation has increased, and there is a tendency for women to experience more symptoms and variable presentation after sport-related concussion (SRC). The purpose of this study was to determine whether sex differences exist in time to begin a return-to-play (RTP) progression after an initial SRC. HYPOTHESIS: After initial SRC, female athletes (11-20 years old) would take longer to begin an RTP progression compared with age-matched male athletes. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3. <br><br>METHODS: A total of 579 participants (365 males [mean age, 15.0 ± 1.7 years], 214 females [mean age, 15.2 ± 1.5 years]), including middle school, high school, and collegiate athletes who participated in various sports and experienced an initial SRC were included and underwent retrospective chart review. The following information was collected: sex, age at injury, sport, history of prior concussion, date of injury, and date of initiation of RTP progression. Participants with a history of more than 1 concussion or injury sustained from non-sport-related activity were excluded. <br><br>RESULTS: Despite American football having the greatest percentage (49.2%) of sport participation, female athletes took significantly longer to start an RTP progression after an initial SRC (29.1 ± 26.3 days) compared with age-matched male athletes (22.7 ± 18.3 days; P = 0.002). <br><br>CONCLUSION: On average, female athletes took approximately 6 days longer to begin an RTP progression compared with age-matched male athletes. This suggests that sex differences exist between athletes, ages 11 to 20 years, with regard to initiation of an RTP progression after SRC. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Female athletes may take longer to recover after an SRC, and therefore, may take longer to return to sport. Sex should be considered as part of the clinical decision-making process when determining plan of care for this population.<br><br>© 2016 The Author(s).<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1941-7381",
doi="10.1177/1941738116672184",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1941738116672184"
}