Oct 1, 2016Females Under Report
Although promptly reporting suspected concussions is important for treatment, a recent study suggests the injury may go unreported among female athletes. Among the female high school student-athletes who were included in the study, about 30 percent of those who suspected having a concussion reported it to their coach or athletic trainer.
According to an article in News-Medical, 77 female student athletes completed a survey about their sports-related head injuries and concussion symptoms. About 40 percent of the participants thought they had experienced a concussion, but some said they didn’t report it because it didn’t seem like a big deal or they wanted to keep playing.
“Our results suggest that, most of the time, the athlete who is experiencing symptoms of a concussion doesn’t even recognize it as a concussion,” Tracy McDonald, MSN, RN, CCRN, of The University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, and the study’s lead author, told News-Medical. “Even when they do recognize it as a concussion, they are unlikely to report it to seek help.”
In terms of symptoms, headache was reported as the most common symptom, followed by dizziness, sensitivity to light or noise, and blurred vision. Most of the student-athletes experienced symptoms for less than a day. The researchers believe the study’s findings showcase the necessity for more effective education programs for student-athletes, with an emphasis on recognizing and reporting symptoms.
