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Updated: Aug 3, 2026
A Neuroscientific Approach to the Examination of Concussions in Student-Athletes
Published on: December 8, 2014
History, Knowledge, and Education of Sport-Related Concussion Among College Athletes in Japan
Chihiro Tashima1, Mana Otomo2, Yuri Hosokawa3
1Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan.
Context:
Few authors have investigated sport-related concussion (SRC) awareness and knowledge among athletes in Japan. Sport-related concussion research is scarce among Asian compared with North American and European cohorts.
Objective:
To examine previous SRC history, level of SRC knowledge, and previous exposure to SRC education among collegiate athletes in Japan by the level of contact and access to medical staff.
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Setting:
Single-university study in Japan.
Patients Or Other Participants:
A total of 2103 athletes (48 varsity teams) were contacted to participate in an anonymous survey. Data from athletes with (1) SRC history in the past 3 months, (2) persistent SRC symptoms, (3) nontraditional sports, or (4) incomplete surveys were excluded. As a result, data from 593 athletes representing 43 varsity teams were included in this analysis.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Outcome measures were level of contact (contact [CON], limited contact [LTD], noncontact [NC]), access to medical staff (MEDYES, MEDNO), SRC knowledge (maximum score of 49), previous SRC history (self-report; yes, no), and previous SRC education (self-report; yes, no).
Results:
The average SRC knowledge total score was 33.4 ± 6.1 (range, 18-48). The knowledge score in CON was higher than in LTD and NC (P < .001) and in MEDYES than MEDNO (median, MEDYES = 34.0, MEDNO = 32.0; U = 27 841.5, P < .001). Sport-related concussion history was statistically different by the level of contact ( = 27.95, P < .001) and by access to medical staff ( = 4.5, P = .034). The presence of an SRC history and previous SRC education contributed to higher SRC knowledge, independent of the level of contact and access to medical staff (P < .001).
Conclusions:
Japanese athletes who participated in CON sports had a higher prevalence of SRC history, higher knowledge, and greater exposure to SRC education than those in LTD or NC sports. Access to medical staff was associated with higher SRC knowledge.
