University of Washington Study Finds Many Young Girl Soccer Players Keep Playing After a Concussion

A study by researchers at the University of Washington finds that many girl soccer players are not following recommended guidelines in current concussions protocols and continue to play after they have received a blow to the head. The study examined more than 350 middle school soccer players on 33 teams in Washington State. It found that of this group, 59 girls had suffered from concussions. And furthermore, most of these girls continue to play despite the fact that they had suffered concussions. Playing after a concussion has occurred can expose athletes to possible “second-impact syndrome” which can result in severe injury or even death.

Melissa Schiff, professor of epidemiology in the School of Public Health at the University of Washington and one of the authors of the study, stated, “Young athletes who get a concussion tend to underreport or minimize it because they don’t want to be taken out of play. Unless they tell their coach about it, coaches aren’t aware of what happened.”

Dr. Schiff concludes that “we need more education for children, as well as parents and coaches, about what a concussion is and what the consequence can be if it isn’t taken seriously.” Dr. Schiff holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a medical degree from the University of Michigan.

The research, “Concussion Among Female Middle School Soccer Players,” was published on the website of the journal JAMA Pediatrics.