Protecting Young Athletes from Concussions
- Category: Sports Medicine, Blog
- Posted On:
- Written By: Bassil Aish, MD
Study Shows Young Female Soccer Players More Prone to Concussions
At first glance, soccer might look like it’s all about running, passing, and kicking. But did you know that girls’ soccer is one of the top sports for high school concussions?
In fact, studies show that girls’ soccer ranks second only to football when it comes to concussion rates — and it’s the number-one cause of concussions among girls’ sports. A recent study published in the Journal of Orthopaedics found that between 2014 and 2023, more than 57,000 high school girls’ soccer players experienced a concussion or head injury. The head was the most frequently injured body part, followed by the ankle and knee.
To picture what happens during a concussion, think of the brain like an egg: the yolk (your brain) sits inside the egg white (cerebrospinal fluid). Normally, that fluid cushions your brain as you move throughout the day. But when the head gets hit or jolted suddenly, the brain can bump against the skull—like shaking that egg—and that’s when damage can occur.
Because concussions are so common in soccer, especially for girls, baseline testing and prevention strategies are key. Here’s why female athletes may be at higher risk and what we can do to protect them.
Why Are Girls More Prone to Concussions in Soccer?
- Headers: Heading the ball may look effortless, but it’s actually one of the biggest causes of head injuries. Nearly 40% of heading incidents involve player-to-player contact, often from an elbow, arm or hand to the head.
- Neck strength: Girls generally have less neck strength, meaning their heads can move faster and harder on impact.
- Hormones: Some studies suggest that hormone levels, especially progesterone, may affect how severe concussion symptoms are and how long recovery takes.
- Brain structure and function: Subtle differences in brain wiring and hormones might also play a role in how injuries occur and heal.
- Visual awareness: Differences in depth perception or peripheral vision may make some players more likely to collide or misjudge ball trajectories.
Protecting Our Players: What Coaches and Parents Can Do
- Teach proper heading technique. Players should strike the ball with the frontal hairline and engage their neck muscles at impact to reduce force on the brain.
- Strengthen neck muscles. Neck and upper-body exercises can help stabilize the head during collisions.
- Schedule vision screenings. Good vision isn’t just about being 20/20 — it’s also about depth perception, eye tracking and peripheral vision, all of which are crucial for safe play.
- Do baseline concussion testing. Before the season starts, many teams now assess athletes’ balance and cognitive function. This gives doctors and trainers a reference point if a player gets injured.
If Your Athlete Gets a Concussion
- Monitor for “red flag” symptoms the first 48 hours. These include worsening headache, vomiting, loss of consciousness, seizures or confusion. These symptoms require emergency care.
- Seek prompt care from a physician specializing in concussion. Sports medicine physicians at Hoag Orthopedic Institute are specially trained to treat athletes following concussion.
- Take it easy immediately following the concussion. Encourage rest and limit screen time. You can offer acetaminophen for pain and be sure to encourage extra hydration.
- Stay active — carefully. Within the first couple of days, as long as there are no red flag symptoms, light exercise can actually speed up recovery, as long as it doesn’t trigger symptoms. Gentle drills and low-intensity workouts are great options. (Just skip the headers!)
- Stretch it out. Neck stretches and mobility work can help relieve tightness and pain that can often linger after a concussion.
Bottom line: Concussions are serious, but they’re also manageable. With awareness, preparation, and proper recovery, girls’ soccer players can remain strong, healthy and confident on the field.
Bassil Aish, MD is a double board-certified family and sports physician at Hoag Orthopedic Institute. He has more than 20 years of clinical experience and has expertise in concussion diagnosis and treatment. Learn more at hoagorthopedicinstitute.com.
References:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0972978X25003204
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306987716308325
