A new survey of parents of children age 12 to 17 years playing school sports reported a surprising lack of knowledge by parents of concussion risks although six in ten were at least somewhat worried their children will suffer a concussion while playing school sports. The survey also found that eight in ten support a requirement that an athlete be evaluated and cleared by a doctor before being allowed to return to play sports after suffering a concussion.
The survey was conducted for C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and the University of Michigan.
Parent knowledge limited
- Less than one parent in ten (8%) had read or heard a lot about the risk of repeated concussions in school sports; more than one third (36%) had not heard or read anything on the topic.
- More than half of the parents surveyed did not know if their child's school had a policy about returning to sports after a concussion; only a third (36%) were aware that their child's school had such a policy.
Many worried child will suffer concussion
Despite their lack of knowledge, parents of young athletes are concerned about concussions:
- One in five (18%) are "very worried" that their children will suffer a concussion while playing sports; and
- Nearly half (45%) are "somewhat worried."
Differing views on return to play
- 16% of parents felt there should be no specific time before a young athlete could safely return to play after a concussion.
- 11% felt there should be a 3-day waiting period
- 16% said an athlete should sit out a week
- 26% viewed a two-week waiting period as appropriate
- 22% said a player should wait a month or longer before returning to sports.
Note: the latest international consensus of sports concussion experts is that every concussion is different and that there are no hard and fast rules. Studies show, however, that most athletes recover from concussion in about 7 to 10 days. A 2010 study of concussions in nine high school sports during the 2008-2009 school year1 found that 83.4% of those who suffered a concussion experienced resolution of their symptoms within a week.
For more on return to play guidelines, click here.
Confidence in school's handling
- Most parents (85%) agreed that coaches and trainers would handle concussions appropriately,
- 62% of parents, however, admitted knowing parents who would have their children return to sports too soon after a concussion; and
- 50% of the parents surveyed said they knew coaches who would do the same.
Strong support for concussion policies
- 84% of parents support a rule requiring athletes to be evaluated and cleared by a doctor before returning to play after a concussion [Note: only 6 states currently require written clearance by a health care professional before a return to play]
- 81% favor making training of coaches about concussion risks mandatory [Note: only 6 states currently require concussion training of coaches]
- 71% favor a mandatory waiting period before a player is allowed to return to sports [Note: only New Mexico mandates a minimum 7-day waiting period before a return to sports]
- 67% support a requirement that high schools have a certified athletic trainer (AT) or health professional onsite for practices and games, but disagree about how to fund such a requirement:
- 43% say the money should come from the general school budget;
- 28% think funds should come from team fundraising or user fees;
- 20% say the state or federal government should fund the AT; and
- 9% believe volunteer health professionals should be recruited.
Substantial room for improvement
The survey indicates "substantial room for improvement, particularly in the area of educating parents [about concussions]."
"The involvement of parents in guarding against repeat concussions is critical," says the survey, particularly because most concussions do not result in a loss of consciousness, symptoms may not occur until several hours or even days after the injury (delayed onset is more common among youth athletes), and the reluctance of athletes to report symptoms.
Parents thus play an important role in the recognition and treatment of concussions and should notify school and/or health care personnel if they have any concerns.
Updated December 2, 2010
Source: C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, Vol. 10, Issue 1 (June 14, 2010)
1. Meehan W, d'Hemecourt P, Comstock D, "High School Concussions in the 2008-2009 Academic Year: Mechanism, Symptoms, and Management" Am. J. Sports. Med. 2010; 38(12): 2405-2409 (accessed December 2, 2010 at http://ajs.sagepub.com/content/38/12/2405.abstract?etoc).
