Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 18, 2026
A Multi-Modal Approach to Assessing Recovery in Youth Athletes Following Concussion
Published on: September 25, 2014
Sex-specific Outcomes and Predictors of Concussion Recovery.
Cecilia Davis-Hayes1, James D Gossett, William N Levine
1From the College of Physicians and Surgeons (Ms. Davis-Hayes), Columbia Athletics (Mr. Gossett and Mr. Harada), the Department of Orthopaedics (Dr. Levine), the Department of Neurology, the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, and the Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center (Dr. Noble), Columbia University, New York, NY; the Department of Neurology, East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson City, TN (Dr. Shams); and the Department of Neuroscience, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (Mr. Mitnick).
Female athletes have a higher risk of sports-related concussion (SRC). The total number of post-concussion symptoms, particularly in females, predicts a longer recovery period.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Neurology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Sports-related concussion (SRC) is a significant issue in collegiate athletics.
- Existing research on sex-based differences in SRC is often limited by sample size and follow-up duration.
- Predictors for SRC occurrence and recovery vary by sex, requiring further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex-based differences in the occurrence and recovery of sports-related concussions.
- To identify risk factors associated with SRC in collegiate athletes.
- To determine predictors of prolonged recovery from concussion.
Main Methods:
- A 15-year retrospective cohort study of 1,200 varsity athletes at Columbia University.
- Analysis included 822 male and 378 female athletes.
- Data on concussion occurrence, symptoms, and recovery were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Female athletes (23.3%) were more likely to experience concussion than male athletes (17.0%) (P = 0.01).
- Female sex (OR, 1.5) and a history of precollegiate concussion (OR, 2.9) were significant risk factors for collegiate concussion.
- A higher number of postconcussion symptoms (≥8) predicted prolonged recovery for all athletes (OR, 3.77) and specifically for female athletes (OR, 8.24).
Conclusions:
- Female athletes face a higher incidence of sports-related concussions compared to male athletes.
- A history of prior concussions is a predictor of recurrent concussions.
- The total number of postconcussion symptoms is a key predictor of prolonged recovery, especially in female athletes.
