Background and Epidemiology A concussion is caused by a traumatic force to the head that leads to immediate symptoms and cognitive impairments (1). Sports-related concussions are a subtype of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) (2). It is a subjective diagnosis that is made through cognitive evaluation, motor evaluation, and self-reported symptoms. The most common symptoms reported include headache, dizziness, and confusion (1). Other signs and symptoms include the following clinical domains: Somatic, cognitive, or emotional (i.e., emotional lability) Physical (i.e., visual problems, light and noise sensitivity) Balance impairment (i.e., unsteady gait) Behavioral changes (i.e., irritability) Cognitive impairment (i.e., delayed responses) and sleep/wake disturbance (i.e., drowsiness) (2,3). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States, 10% of all sport athletes suffer from a concussion yearly (4). In children, 45% of sports- and recreation-related TBIs came from collision or contact sports (5). Some sports with the highest incidences include football, soccer, and basketball (5). Children ages 10 to 14 have the most emergency department visits due to sports-related TBIs (2). Females have been noted to have higher risk in sustaining sports-related TBI. Some postulations as to why these groups have higher risk include lower neck strength and hormonal fluctuations (6).
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