Cape Town - Athletes who have a history of sports-related head injuries are more likely to suffer subsequent concussions, with women and young people at even greater risk of injuries, a UCT study has found.
In an analysis of more than 80 studies on sports concussions Shameemah Abrahams – who did the research as part of her Master’s degree in exercise science - found that rugby and hockey players were at greater risk of experiencing successive concussions compared with other sports, while American footballers had a heightened risk of up to six-fold.
The study, which was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine recently, looked at various risk factors including gender, genetics, behaviour and playing positions.
There was an increased risk among women who played softball compared to male baseball players
.
Female soccer players were found to have increased head acceleration during impacts compared to males.
These injuries were associated with decreased neck strength and effective head mass. Researchers also suggested the higher concussion rates in women might be related to their willingness to report injuries.
Adolescents seemed to be at more risk of concussions with significantly higher injury rates of 11 and 16-year-old ice hockey players compared to nine and 10-year-olds. High school football (gridiron) players were at more risk compared to those at college, but the risk among college cheerleaders was even greater at three-fold. Conversely children younger than six were at greater risk of concussions while roller skating, ice skating and roller blading.
In 29 studies analysed it was found there was a higher risk of head injuries in matches compared to practices. This increased risk was attributed to the intensity and high-impact collisions in matches. Rugby players with less training and below average body mass index (BMI) were also at risk of injuries while junior ice hockey players with low body weight were also at increased risk.
“This may be due to the aggressive nature of ice hockey in which players use their own body weight to gain advantage, resulting in heavier players often knocking down their lighter opponents,” wrote Abrahams.
She attributed the multiple concussions to various factors including poor recovery and possible brain damage after injury, and other neurological conditions such as migraines and epilepsy, which were risk factors for concussions. - Cape Argus