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A Neuroscientific Approach to the Examination of Concussions in Student-Athletes
Published on: December 8, 2014
Risk of Concussion During Sports Versus Physical Education Among New Mexico Middle and High School Students
Richard A Campbell1, Stephanie A Gorman1, Robert J Thoma1
1Richard A. Campbell, Stephanie Gorman, Robert J. Thoma, and John H. King are with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque. Robert D. Annett is with the Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson. Christopher A. McGrew is with the Departments of Family and Community Medicine and Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque. Ronald A. Yeo is with the Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. Andrew R. Mayer is with The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM. Andrew S. Rowland is with College of Population Health, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque.
Objectives:
To measure the risk of concussion among New Mexico middle and high school students during both sports and physical education.
Methods:
Athletic directors or athletic trainers in 147 schools were asked to report the number of concussions occurring during sports and physical education in the 2013 to 2014 school year. We calculated 1-year cumulative incidence rates.
Results:
Of the 147 schools, 99 responded (67%). During the school year, 598 students were removed from athletics because of a concussion, a 1-year cumulative incidence of 3.5 per 100. The concussion rate during sports was 3.0: 3.5 for boys and 2.4 for girls (relative risk [RR] = 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2, 1.7). An additional 335 students experienced concussions during physical education. Concussion rates during physical education were 60% higher than during sports (RR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.4, 1.8).
Conclusions:
In our data, the risk of concussion was higher in physical education than in sports. This suggests that concussions should be tracked for a wide range of youth athletic activities, not just for sports. Monitoring cumulative incidence, in addition to other measures, may allow comparisons across schools and regions. More prevention efforts are needed.
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