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A Multi-Modal Approach to Assessing Recovery in Youth Athletes Following Concussion
Published on: September 25, 2014
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Risk of Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Injury Within the First Year After a Concussion
Megan H Roach1,2,3, Michael J Aderman4, Jeremy D Ross5
1Extremity Trauma & Amputation Center of Excellence, Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Virginia, USA.
Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine
|May 17, 2023
Summary
Athletes with a concussion face a higher risk of upper extremity injuries after returning to activity. This study found concussed individuals were more than twice as likely to sustain an upper extremity injury within a year.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Neurology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Concussions are increasingly recognized as a risk factor for lower extremity injuries in athletes and military personnel.
- The association between concussion and subsequent upper extremity (UE) musculoskeletal injury remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively investigate the relationship between concussion and the risk of UE musculoskeletal injury within one year of return to unrestricted activity.
- To quantify the increased risk of UE injuries following a concussion in a military population.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study involving 5660 participants at the United States Military Academy.
- Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium data was used, identifying 316 concussion cases.
- Active injury surveillance for 12 months post-return to activity monitored acute UE musculoskeletal injuries in concussed cases and matched controls.
Main Results:
- During the 12-month follow-up, 19.3% of concussed cases and 9.2% of controls sustained a UE injury.
- Concussed cases demonstrated a 2.25-fold increased risk of UE injury in univariate analysis.
- Multivariable analysis, adjusted for covariates, revealed concussed cases were 1.84 times more likely to sustain a UE injury.
Conclusions:
- Concussion significantly increases the risk of acute upper extremity musculoskeletal injuries within the first year after returning to activity.
- This elevated injury risk persists even after accounting for other potential risk factors like prior injury history and sport level.
