According to a related article, an estimated 62,816 cases of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) occur each year among high school varsity athletes, and football accounts for about 63 percent of cases.
John W. Powell, Ph.D., A.T.C., formerly of Med Sports Systems in Iowa City, Iowa, and Kim D. Barber-Foss, M.S., A.T.C., of Med Sports Systems, examined injury reports from 246 high school athletic trainers, and used the data to estimate MTBI nationwide. They define MTBI as an injury for which a player was removed from participation and evaluated for a traumatic brain or head injury by the athletic trainer, physician, or both, before returning to performance. Powell is now with Michigan State University, East Lansing.
Among 1,219 MTBIs reported during the 1995-97 academic years, 773 (63.4 percent)
occurred among football players with an injury rate of 3.6 concussions per 100
player-seasons. However, athletes participating in other popular high school sports also
sustained MTBI, including:
The authors point out that collisions are a key factor in MTBI in sports. "Modifications in player skills, teaching techniques, and playing rules may be required to reduce the potential risk from different types of collisions in sports," they suggest.
They stress the importance of players and coaches reporting all suspected head injuries
to athletic trainers and team physicians. "Clearly identifying the MTBI, carefully
documenting the signs and symptoms at the time of injury, reevaluation of the signs and
symptoms until they disappear, and monitoring of brain function through neuropsychological
profiles may lead to greater success in prevention of re-injury," they conclude.