A study published in Biological Psychiatry

found that concussions may alter the trajectory of white matter maturation in female children and that this alteration may play a role in the onset of new depression and anxiety after concussion. 

The use of helmets in women’s lacrosse continues to be a topic of significant debate, as helmets are not mandatory in women’s lacrosse but are required in men’s lacrosse. A 2015 study found that women’s lacrosse had the second-highest rate of concussions among a variety of high school and college sports.

A preliminary study suggests that younger soccer players encounter more total head impacts during “repetitive technical training activities,” while scrimmages and games resulted in fewer head impacts of “greater magnitude.”

A study found a dramatic increase — more than 200% — in sports-related head injuries among female athletes ages 14-18” between 2000-2019. Moreover, the study also found that adolescent women who play soccer, basketball, cheerleading, softball, and volleyball are the most likely to be admitted to the emergency room (ER) with a concussion or traumatic brain injury.

A recent study in Brain Injury explored the importance of social support during youth concussion recovery, specifically in reference to high school women.

While concussion in sports discussions often focus on football, in high school by far the biggest culprit is girl’s soccer. While the explanation for this gender gap in concussion risk is debated (some claim a later neck muscle development in girls), the difference of 12.1% more concussions in girls than boys is shocking (34.5% to 22.4%).