Concussions are common in soccer, accounting for up to 53% of all high school athletic concussions. Symptoms range from mild to severe, and can include confusion, headaches, and loss of consciousness. College and professional football players have even higher rates of concussions, with former players experiencing long-term neurological problems.
Concussions in soccer can result from a number of causes, including falls and injuries, often occurring after tackles following a sudden or severe impact. In some studies, concussions in soccer account for up to 53 percent of all concussions in high school athletics. Approximately 60% of players in professional soccer have suffered a concussion over the course of a career, and 26% report more than three concussions over the course of their career.
When a football player feels a sudden jolt to the head, the brain can suffer an injury called a concussion. A concussion is considered a type of brain injury. Concussions can lead to decreased brain function and a variety of symptoms.
Symptoms experienced by those with concussions, including soccer players, range from mild to severe. Mild symptoms can include confusion, headaches, and dizziness. More serious symptoms can include balance disturbances, seizures, and loss of consciousness.
In a sample of high school students, a study by the Sports Medicine Research Center at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore found that football players accounted for 53 percent of all concussions experienced by the athletes in the study. Additionally, the study found that the incidence rate of concussions in high school-level soccer increased 8 percent annually from 1997 to 2008. The study included concussions sustained during practice and games.
According to a study conducted by the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program, college football athletes experience concussions at a rate of 10.5 per 1,000 athletic practices and competitions. Additionally, the study found that college football athletes were 7 times more likely to suffer concussions in football competitions than in practice. The increased size and speed of players, as well as the level of competitiveness found in college sports, result in more severe concussions.
In professional football the numbers are even higher. About 60% of former players in a study conducted by the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes at North Carolina University had suffered a concussion during their playing career. The study also found that professional soccer players who had a concussion also experienced memory, concentration and neurological problems at a higher rate than those who didn’t have a concussion.
Other statistics demonstrate a continued prevalence of problems beyond the end of an athlete’s career. Depression occurred three times as often in those who experienced three or more concussions in a career. Even former professional soccer players experienced Alzheimer’s disease 19 times more frequently than those who didn’t play soccer or suffered a concussion.
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