Gender Differences in Concussion Symptoms of High School Soccer Players
Loading...
Authors
Thomas, Karin E.
Issue Date
2018-07
Type
Dissertation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Dissertations, Academic--United States , Brain--Concussion , Sports injuries , Sports--Sex differences
Alternative Title
Abstract
Sports-related concussion caused by either direct or indirect force to the head is a form of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) that results in a disturbance in brain functioning. This disturbance may affect the athlete’s ability to participate in sports, pursue vocations or experience success academically. Because mTBI is a health concern with need for medical and clinical management, it is imperative to determine which features of concussion influence or impact recovery. These features, or prognostic indicators, include gender and may impact recovery and overall outcomes.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether males and females differ in concussive symptoms after sport related injuries. This may ultimately change the way concussions are managed from the sideline, in the emergency department, and during rehabilitation therapies until finally, determination of returning to play. The study design is a retrospective cohort study with data collected from the 2015, 2016, and 2017 soccer seasons from northern Indiana’s South Bend school corporation. Data collection methods consisted of concussion symptom information being collected by athletic trainers (AT) from the time a player sustained a sport related mTBI until the player was asymptomatic. The participants consisted of male and female high school soccer athletes injured during practice or during a game. Male and female players were compared for number of symptoms, severity of symptoms and duration of symptom complaints. The results of the study revealed that females reported an increased number and level of severity of concussion symptoms. Females experienced a longer duration of recovery that is becoming asymptomatic when compared to males.
Description
Citation
Thomas, Karin E. "Gender Differences in Concussion Symptoms of High School Soccer Players," Ph.D. diss., Valdosta State University, July 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10428/3190.