Concussions by the Numbers

History of prior concussion, collision sports, female sex, and women's soccer are the strongest known risk factors for concussion, while symptoms such as persistent headaches, migraines, amnesia, and multiple symptoms appear to be associated with prolonged recovery, says a new study.

The number of children diagnosed with concussion at hospital emergency rooms has more than doubled over the last decade while the number of admissions after ER treatment declined, says the preliminary results of a 2012 study. The data suggest efforts to increase awareness of the dangers of traumatic brain injury are working.

Ensuring that football helmets fit properly, and that those with air bladder linings are properly inflated, may be two of the simplest but most effective ways to minimize the risk of concussion and catastrophic brain injury, say the authors of a February 2012 study.

Diagnosis and prevention of head injuries has come a long way, but actual treatment options in the medical model, besides medication for headache, rest and cautioning against a premature return to play, have lagged behind. Edward Feldman, D.C., RCST, offers a natural and non-invasive way to heal called "Functional Medicine" which includes craniosacral therapy (developed in osteopathy) and use of the Feldenkrais Method.

Athletic trainers and primary care physicians evaluate and manage most concussions in high school sports, but the small percentage of athletes returned to play by a non-medical professional is worrying, says a new study.

Athletes who have sustained a concussion are at increased risk for sustaining another compared to athletes without a concussion history. Although experts offer several possible explanations, the precise reasons are unknown.

Football still has the highest number of concussions and concussion rate at the high school level, but concussion rates are also high in boys' hockey and lacrosse, and girls' soccer, lacrosse and field hockey, says the most recent study.

Concussion in high school sports are increasing at a 15% annual rate, finds a new study. Consistent with previous studies, football accounted for more than half of all concussions and a concussion rate nearly double the rate for girls' soccer, the sport with the next highest rate. Concussion rates increased across all 12 sports studied.  Although the degree of change varied, ranging from an average annual increase of 8% for football to 27% for wrestling, Girls had a higher rate of concussion that that of boys in those sports (soccer, basketball, baseball/softball) where the boys' and girls' games are essentially the same.

A new study of concussions suffered by high school athletes shows that loss of consciousness is uncommon, suggesting a greater understanding in the athletic community that loss of consciousness is not required for a concussion diagnosis.