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Girls’ Soccer Holds Highest Concussion Rate Among High School Girls’ Sports

Even with increasing protocols in place, concussion rates continue to be at the forefront of sports injuries — with soccer presenting the highest occurrence among girls high school sports and #2 overall just behind boys’ football. Concussions are very often not taken as seriously as, say, a broken bone or a torn ACL. But, a concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and requires proper treatment/rehabilitation to avoid lasting impairments, including memory issues, headaches, difficulty concentrating, vision impairments, increased visual strain with screens, and sleeping impairments.

Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion:

• Lasting headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Emotional inconsistencies: irritability, laughing while crying, etc
• Sleepiness
• Disoriented or confused
• Excessive Fatigue
• Poor balance
• Blackout
• Sensitivity to light
• Ringing in ears
• Nystagmus upon examination – “jumping” of eyes while tracking side to side without head movement

One may present with only a couple of these symptoms in mild cases and up to all of them in very severe cases. Upon the suspicion of a concussion, an exam by a medical professional should be performed, and treatment supervised by a medical doctor specializing in concussions.

Contrary to common thought, complete rest is typically NOT the ideal prescription for recovering from a concussion in mild-moderate cases. Mild to moderate cases should have a specific plan prescribed and supervised by a concussion-trained physical therapist to improve symptoms appropriately and safely. And for the athletes, a supervised return to sports programs can ensure that the athletes can return safely without creating too much strain on their brain while they are playing. Complete rest/return to activities too early can prolong symptoms and create long-lasting impairments, some of which were listed above. This is especially true for those that have suffered multiple concussions in their life.

Would you try to brush off symptoms or rush back to your activities after a broken bone, sprained ankle, or surgery? I hope the answer is no, and I hope you do the same for a concussion or a suspected concussion. Your brain requires healing and proper recovery after a trauma too!

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