Risk Factors for Susceptibility to Concussion in Female Collegiate Athletes

Abstract

Several studies have shown that female athletes have a higher incidence of concussion while playing the same sports as their male counterparts, and women’s soccer has been reported to have one of the highest incidences of concussion, second only to men’s football. While there has been speculation about certain factors that could make women more susceptible to this type of injury, few studies have tested these hypotheses. The purpose of this study was to test for associations between certain physical and behavioral characteristics and the occurrence of concussion in female soccer players at the college level. Results showed trends that both higher neck length and lower neck circumference may be associated with increased risk for concussion. Aggressiveness was not found to differ between those with a history of concussion (HOC) and those without (No HOC). These results suggest that female athletes may be able to lower their risk for concussion by increasing neck size through strength training exercises.