Case Study

Sports-Related Concussion: Diagnosis, Treatment and Intervention

Children’s developing brains are vulnerable to the chemical and metabolic changes associated with concussions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed data from the 2023 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey and found 14.2% of U.S. high school students reported having one or more concussions in the past year.

Many concussion-causing injuries are related to participation in sports. Take the following quizzes to assess your familiarity with the symptoms of sports-related concussion (SRC) in the United States.

Test Your Concussion IQ

Determine whether the following statements are true or false.

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The sport with the highest incidence of SRC is boys’ tackle football.

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SRC can only be caused by a direct blow to the head or neck.

Select one answer and use the Submit button to check your response.

The most common physical symptom of SRC is headache.

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Loss of consciousness is reported in about half of SRCs.

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Athletes who sustain an SRC should not be left alone after the injury and should be monitored for several hours.

One study estimated that 75% of patients ages 5 to 17 years who sought treatment following a suspected SRC saw their primary care provider (Arbogast, Curry, & Pfeiffer et al., 2016). The remaining patients were seen in an emergency department or treated by a trainer and referred to a specialist without seeing a primary care provider. Another study determined that 45% to 65% of young people did not seek any medical care after a potential SRC (Bryan, Rowhani-Rahbar, Comstock, & Rivara, 2016).

Why it Matters

Primary care providers who recognize SRC symptoms and are prepared to diagnose and treat concussion can help young patients heal and safely return to school and their normal activities.

References

Arbogast, K. B., Curry, A. E., Pfeiffer, M. R., et al. (2016). Point of Health Care Entry for Youth With Concussion Within a Large Pediatric Care Network. JAMA Pediatrics; 170(7): e160294.

Bryan, M. A., Rowhani-Rahbar, A., Comstock, R. D., & Rivara, F. (2016). Sports- and Recreation-Related Concussion in US Youth. Pediatrics; 138(1), e20154635.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion. (2024). National Concussion Surveillance System.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Youth Risk Behavior Survey. High School Students Who Had a Concussion from Playing a Sport of Being Physically Active.