We’re all still learning about the causes and effects of concussions. Anyone can suffer a concussion in a wide variety of situations, including a fall or motor vehicle accident. But contact sports are generally considered to pose an increased risk of concussions for its participants. Unfortunately, the high school sports with the highest rates of concussion are those that are most commonly played in high school, including football, soccer and hockey.
High School Sports With the Highest Rates of Concussion
As reported by CNN, a study from the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study (HSRIO) looked at incidents of concussion, which they classified as “(a traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, jolt or blow to the head) defined as occurring as a result of practice or competition, requiring medical attention and being diagnosed as a concussion”.
While the report is based on data from U.S. high schools, the sports examined in the study, including volleyball, basketball, softball, cross country, lacrosse, swimming and diving, are also common high school sports in Canada.
- Boys’ Football – 10.4 concussions per 10,000 exposures. An exposure being the participation in a game or practice of each sport.
- Girls’ Soccer – 8.19 concussions per 10,000 exposures.
- Boys’ Ice Hockey – 7.69 concussions per 10,000 exposures
While the study found that most concussions happened in competition, one sport, cheerleading, had a higher rate of concussions in practice than in competition.
KONKUSSION Baseline Testing: one of the challenges of preventing and treating concussions is the difficulty in accurately diagnosing them. Annual baseline tests are the most reliable way to determine if an athlete has indeed suffered a concussion. Developed by neurosurgeons and neurologists, KONKUSSION offers all athletes a comprehensive baseline testing protocol and a subsequent 24/7/365 complete concussion care and safe return-to-play program.
PinPoint Health is proud to be KONKUSSION’s certified clinic in Markham for concussion treatment and management.
To learn more about concussions, check out our post “How Long Does It Take To Recover From A Concussion?”
