Why Do Women in Sports Suffer More Concussions Than Men? TBI Experts Share Insights
As women’s participation in athletics continues to rise, a study from the Journal of Athletic Training highlights the concerning trend of increasing head trauma, particularly concussions, among female athletes participating in collegiate sports.
Experts at Brooks Rehabilitation, a comprehensive system of care for physical rehabilitation, have shared insights as to why this spike in injury is affecting more women than men, the physical and mental signs to remember and preventative measures to take to avoid injury.
| Physical symptoms of TBIs include: | Mental or cognitive symptoms of TBIs include:
|
| · Loss of coordination
· Numbness or weakness in the toes and fingers · Inability to wake up naturally from sleep · Clear fluid oozing from the ears and nose · Pupil dilation · Seizures or convulsions · Constant nausea or vomiting · Persistent headache · Loss of consciousness for a short period |
· Coma and other consciousness-related disorders
· Slurred speech · Unusual behavior, combativeness, and agitation · Profound confusion
|
Kenneth Ngo, MD, medical director of Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital – University Campus, Brooks Brain Injury Program and Center for Innovation, shared, “Although we don’t know the exact reasons, epidemiology studies do show that female athletes sustain a higher rate of concussion in all sports, except for lacrosse. The current theory is this may be because of biomechanical differences of the head-neck segment, hormonal differences and the fact that female athletes are more likely to report symptoms after a suspected sport-related concussion.”
“One possibility for the increase in head injuries in females may likely be due to increase in female athletes’ participation in sports. From 2020-21, there was a 5% increase in student athletes completing in NCAA Women’s championship sports,” shared Trevor Persaud, DO, associate medical director of the Brain Injury Program and medical director of the Brain Injury Day Program at Brooks Rehabilitation.
“Another possible explanation for the increase in head injuries is the awareness of concussion/TBI in the general population over the past decade or so,” said Dr. Persaud.
“Quite often we are seeing sport channels/news coverage discuss more and more about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in football players. The increase in brain injury/concussion awareness is likely causing more athletes to seek treatment after a head injury.”
Here are three ways people can best avoid TBIs when playing sports:
- Always wear the appropriate protective gear when participating in both contact and no contact sports.
- Adjust form when actively engaging in sports to keep the head away from impact. For example, lead with your shoulder rather than your head.
- Do not hesitate to acknowledge your injury when you feel the physical and mental signs and seek treatment.
Both doctors share a multi-faceted approach, beginning with prevention. For further insight on traumatic brain injuries and how Brooks Rehabilitation can help create a clear path to recovery, please visit the Brooks Rehabilitation blog here.
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Additional Sources:
About Brooks Rehabilitation
For more than 50 years, the nonprofit Brooks Rehabilitation, headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., has been a comprehensive system of care for physical rehabilitation. Ranked as the No. 1 rehabilitation hospital in Florida and one of the top 20 in the nation on U.S. News & World Report, Brooks operates two inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in Jacksonville, Fla., and a Center for Inpatient Rehabilitation in partnership with Halifax Health (Daytona Beach). Brooks also offers one of the region’s largest home healthcare agencies; more than 50 outpatient therapy clinics; the Brooks Rehabilitation Medical Group; two skilled nursing facilities; assisted living; memory care; and the Clinical Research Center, which specializes in advanced research to further the science of rehabilitation. In addition, Brooks provides many low- or no-cost community programs and services to improve the quality of life for people living with physical disabilities. For more information, visit BrooksRehab.org.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
