Sex Differences in Time to Return-to-Play Progression After Sport-Related Concussion

Overview

Journal Sports Health

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Orthopedics

Date 2016 Oct 5

PMID 27697890

Citations 18

Authors

Sarah Stone

Bobby Lee

J Craig Garrison

Damond Blueitt

Kalyssa Creed

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

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.

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.

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).

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, aged 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.

Citing Articles

Consequences of adolescent sport-related concussion: exploring long-term cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity.

Carere J, Leggett B, Galarneau J, Galea O, Eliason P, Brassard P Ann Med. 2024; 56(1):2398718.

PMID: 39624965 PMC: 11616741. DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2024.2398718.

Differences in Player Performance and Longevity After Achilles Tendon Rupture Between Professional Basketball Players in the NBA and WNBA.

Momtaz D, Ghali A, Ahmad F, Gonuguntla R, Wang R, Yanney R Orthop J Sports Med. 2024; 12(10):23259671231212479.

PMID: 39371574 PMC: 11452890. DOI: 10.1177/23259671231212479.

Assessment of Sports Concussion in Female Athletes: A Role for Neuroinformatics?.

Edelstein R, Gutterman S, Newman B, Van Horn J Neuroinformatics. 2024; 22(4):607-618.

PMID: 39078562 PMC: 11579174. DOI: 10.1007/s12021-024-09680-8.

Understanding Abnormal Examination Findings During Concussion Recovery: A Retrospective Chart Review.

Streicher N, Popovich M, Almeida A, Alsalaheen B, Ichesco I, Freeman J Neurol Clin Pract. 2024; 14(3):e200284.

PMID: 38699600 PMC: 11065325. DOI: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000200284.

Heart Rate Variability in Concussed College Athletes: Follow-Up Study and Biological Sex Differences.

Doucet M, Brisebois H, McKerral M Brain Sci. 2023; 13(12).

PMID: 38137117 PMC: 10741497. DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13121669.

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