Male and Female athletes have similar recovery trajectories but different symptom burdens

By Chelsea Ryan. This article was initially published in the 3/7/24 edition of our Concussion Update newsletter; please consider subscribing.

Jaclyn Caccese et al. examined the process of how male and female athletes recover after sports-related concussions. This research used data from over 900 college athletes and focused on the athletes’ symptoms, balance, and cognitive abilities throughout various time points after their initial injury. The findings, published in Sports Medicine, showed the recovery trajectories for both sexes to be quite similar. However, female athletes’ Vestibular Ocular Motor Screen Total Symptom Scores were significantly higher, indicating a substantially more affected vision and balance system within the first 48 hours after the initial injury in comparison to their male counterparts. This discrepancy decreased as the athletes approached the stage where they could return to play.

Therefore, the study suggests that both male and female athletes recover in a similar way from sports concussions, with some differences in the symptoms experienced. However, the study authors note that females have a greater overall symptom burden during their recovery period. It is essential to recognize the value of this research as it may be crucial in effective concussion management and monitoring of female athletes.