Citation

Lutz RH, DeMoss DJ, Roebuck EH, Mason T, Eiler BA. Curr. Sports Med. Rep. 2021; 20(10): 520-524.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1249/JSR.0000000000000839

PMID

34622816

Abstract

Poor neurocognitive performance has been associated with a greater risk of musculoskeletal injury, and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury prevention protocols include exercises to improve neuromuscular control. Research shows that a concussion elevates the risk for subsequent lower-extremity injury, because concussions lead to lower neurocognitive performance. Studies have been conducted using data within individual male sports, such as football and rugby, or across collegiate sports in aggregate; no study has focused on women's sports. Using 7 years of data collected by athletic training staff at Davidson College, this paper evaluates preconcussive versus postconcussive lower-extremity injury risk across five collegiate women's sports: field hockey, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and lacrosse. Using incidence rate ratios, lacrosse athletes had a five-fold increase in ACL injury risk within 365 d following a concussion. Recognizing that postconcussive ACL tear risk varies across different women's sports is important in informing sport-specific concussion return to play protocols.

Language: en