Study Examines Risk Factors For Prolonged Sports Concussion Symptoms

Researchers have identified risk factors that can signal whether an athlete who has a concussion will experience symptoms beyond one week.

Athletes that have four or more symptoms when they are first injured were more likely to have persistent concussive symptoms, according to a new study from the University of Washington. The study was published by Brain Injury.

Difficulty concentrating, drowsiness, nausea and sensitivity to light and noise were associated with longer-lasting concussive symptoms, according to a university news release.

Although concussions are usually not life-threatening, they are considered a type of traumatic brain injury that can cause serious effects, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The findings of the recent study may affect how long high school athletes are kept from returning to the game after they have a concussion, the news release states. In some games, athletes have been held out longer from playing if they had lost consciousness during their initial injury. The study, however, found “little correlation between loss of consciousness and persistent symptoms,” the news release states.

“The medical community is becoming more aware that concussions may not be a minor injury and may result in prolonged symptoms,” said Dr. Sara P. D. Chrisman, lead author of the study and a fellow in the University of Washington Department of Pediatrics. “This is a step towards developing evidence-based return to play guidelines.”

Sources: University of Washington news release, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

+ Learn more about Concussion Management at Bon Secours. Athletes should be cleared by a physician who is trained in concussion management before they fully return to sports.

+ Read about the importance of ImPACT™ Neurocognitive Testing before athletes begin playing to help ensure their safety.