What Percentage Of Athletes Do Not Report Concussions?

While education and awareness is growing, many athletes still do not report concussion. There are up to 3.8 million concussions in sport in the US each year. But, these numbers are likely an underestimation because more than 50% of all concussions are not reported to an authority figure.

What percentage of athletes hide concussion?

According to the survey of 778 athletes, 69 percent of those with concussions reported playing with symptoms and 40 percent reported that their coach was not aware of their concussion.

Are most concussions never reported?

Most serious head injuries in college football are never reported to team trainers or coaches because the players don’t think their symptoms are severe enough to indicate a concussion, according to a new Indiana State University study.

What percentage of concussions are reported?

6% (1 million) reported two or more concussions . 69% of athletes with a possible concussion played with concussion symptoms. 40% of those athletes said their coach was not aware they had a possible concussion.

Why do athletes not report concussions?

The most common reasons for not reporting a concussion were not wanting to lose playing time , not thinking the injury was serious enough to require medical attention, and not wanting to let the team down.

When do most athletes with a concussion feel better?

While most athletes with a concussion feel better within a couple of weeks , some will have symptoms for months or longer. Not giving the brain enough recovery time can be dangerous.

What are 3 long term symptoms of a concussion?

• Headaches.
• Dizziness.
• Fatigue.
• Irritability.
• Anxiety.
• Insomnia.
• Loss of concentration and memory.
• Ringing in the ears.

Why concussions are so bad?

If someone suffers enough concussions, the nerves may never fully heal. People who get concussions over and over again can develop a disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy which causes the brain to break down , leading to memory loss, depression, and even dementia.

What could happen if a concussion is not reported?

Athletes who do not immediately report symptoms of a concussion and continue to participate in athletic activity are at risk for longer recoveries than athletes who immediately report symptoms and are immediately removed from activity.

Why do so many concussions go unreported?

The most common reasons for concussion not being reported included a player not thinking the injury was serious enough to warrant medical attention (66.4% of unreported injuries), motivation not to be withheld from competition (41.0%), and lack of awareness of probable concussion (36.1%).

What sport has highest rate of concussion?

Football accounted for more than half of all concussions, and it had the highest incidence rate (0.60). Girls’ soccer had the most concussions among the girls’ sports and the second-highest incidence rate of all 12 sports (0.35).

What is the most commonly reported symptom of a concussion?

• Headache. (This is the most common symptom.)
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Confusion.
• Temporary loss of consciousness.
• Balance problems/dizziness/lightheadedness.
• Double or blurry vision.
• Ringing in the ears.
• Sensitivity to light and noise.

What is the protocol for a concussion?

It’s recommended that individuals with a concussion have a 1-2 day period of rest followed by progressive increases in activity . This return to activity should always be monitored by a trained healthcare provider. Most providers will try to see their patients 24-72 hours after the injury to assess their functioning.

How should an athlete fuel their body after a concussion?

1. Carbohydrates from grains, fruits, vegetables. By having carbs for fuel, the protein consumed can be used to heal and repair muscles. ...
2. Protein from lean meats, legumes, nuts and lowfat dairy. ...
3. Plant and fish oils. ...
4. Vitamins. ...
5. Minerals. ...
6. Herbs, spices and botanicals.

What percentage of student athletes return to play even after symptoms of a concussion are reported?

Nearly 70 percent of student-athletes have played a sport while they had concussion symptoms. 40 percent of athletes who have played through concussion symptoms stated that their coaches were unaware of the symptoms.

Can concussions cause long term problems?

“There is evidence that if you have another brain injury when you haven’t recovered from a concussion, the recovery can be very prolonged and possibly result in long-term deficits,” he says. An injury of this nature can impact memory, balance, sleep and mood. It can also result in chronic headaches .