Aug 22, 2018More Athletes Fearful
An annual survey done by the Barrow Neurological Institute revealed changes in the way athletes view concussions. According to azcentral, study authors believe this is leading to a decline in participation.
The report found that 78 percent of the surveyed teenagers, who all had suffered a sport-related concussion, have concerns about long-term consequences of a concussion. In 2017, that number was 58%. It also suggests more and more youths are reconsidering playing football for the fear of concussions.
Dr. Javier Cárdenas, director of the Barrow Concussion and Brain Injury Center, said worries about concussions helped fuel this trend.
“We find that more parents are restricting their student-athletes from participating in football, and athletes themselves are declining to play,” Cárdenas said. “This is true nationally, as well as in Arizona.”
The survey also found that one fourth of the respondents had not received any education on concussions, and that while 90 percent of the respondents considered concussions a “serious medical condition,” a fourth of respondents would play through a concussion if a state championship were at stake.
“It’s clear that while education efforts have created much greater awareness among teens, the medical and education communities still have work to do,” Cárdenas said.
