Study: High-school Athletes’ Concussion Rates Doubled in Seven Years

A new study from The Ohio State University, recently published online in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, reports that concussion rates in U.S. high-school athletes more than doubled in a seven-year period. According to the national study, which used data on nine team sports, between 2005 and 2012, the rate increased from 0.23 to 0.51 concussions per 1,000 athlete exposures. However, researchers suspect that increased awareness accounts for the upward trend. “Our theory is that more people are looking for concussions, and athletes, parents and coaches are being educated on the symptoms and importance of removal from participation, as well as treatment. There is a greater emphasis on monitoring for injury,” said lead author Joseph Rosenthal. To learn more about the study, click here.