A recent study presented at the 2017 AAOS Annual Meeting shows post-traumatic brain injury laws have led to increased concussion diagnoses across all sports.
1. The study shows adolescent female soccer players suffer the most concussions.
2. Lead author Wellington Hsu, MD, of Chicago-based Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine said, "While American football has been both scientifically and colloquially associated with the highest concussion rates, our study found that girls, and especially those who play soccer, may face a higher risk."
3. The study showed girls incurred higher concussion rates in gender-matched sports than boys. Boys baseball and girls volleyball had the largest concussion rate increases during the 10-year study period.
4. Researchers surmise girls may face a great concussion risk in soccer due to a lack of protective gear, an emphasis on in-game contact and "header" plays.
5. Concussion diagnoses have increased since TBI laws have been enacted and concussions are now more common in girls soccer than boys football.
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