For healthcare professionals

Sport-related concussion is a common injury among National Collegiate Athletic Association football athletes. This cross-sectional study examined how different tackling techniques are associated with the risk of head contact and compared the frequency of these techniques among teams during the 2016 season. Starting in 2016, Ivy League Conference coaches banned player-on-player tackling during all in-season practices, while Dartmouth College had already implemented a no-tackle practice policy since 2010. The study found that techniques involving a neutral neck position, contact with the back of the opponent, and specific types of momentum (such as pursuing or quarterback sacks) were linked to a lower risk of head contact. Techniques characterized by neck flexion or extension, front or side contact, and certain tackle types were associated with higher risk. Notably, Dartmouth players used high-risk techniques less frequently and low-risk techniques more frequently than players from other Ivy League teams. These findings suggest that teaching safe tackling techniques and adopting no-tackle practice policies may help reduce the risk of head injuries in football. Focusing on specific tackle techniques, rather than player-on-player tackling, alongside safe practice policies, could be an effective strategy for preventing football-related head injuries.

This cross-sectional study explored concussion-related anxiety perceptions among parents of youth athletes aged 8 to 14 participating in high-concussion-risk sports (football, soccer, ice hockey, lacrosse) in Pennsylvania and Michigan. A total of 452 parents (60% female) completed a survey adapted from the Perceptions of Concussion Inventory for Athletes, along with demographic questions related to concussion exposure and education. A substantial proportion of parents reported being fearful, upset, worried, and anxious at the thought of their child sustaining a concussion. Parental anxiety around concussion is common and may influence decisions about youth sport participation, potentially contributing to declining enrollment in contact sports. Health care providers, including athletic trainers and pediatricians, should proactively address parental concerns, validate their anxiety, and provide targeted concussion education.

While progress has been made in characterizing factors that influence the risk of experiencing prolonged effects of a concussion, no review to date has consolidated the literature that explores how genetic variations contribute to the risk of persistent impairment and the range of symptoms following concussion. This review provides a synopsis of published primary research findings on genetic variants which modify the risk of adverse sequelae following concussion. Prospective, cross-sectional, and case-control studies that examined genetic variants in relation to persistent impairment following concussion (>30 days from injury) were included in the review. The findings suggest that genetic variation plays a role in modulating the duration and severity of post-mTBI symptomatology; however, the influence of other variants on mTBI outcomes remains less clear.

A growing body of research has identified that outcomes associated with TBI may differ depending on how the TBI was sustained. In this study, researchers examined whether concussion mechanism of injury (high-level blast [HLB] vs impact) affects the likelihood of persistent sleep problems in members of the military after deployment. Findings suggest that those with HLB-induced concussions are more likely to report persistent sleep problems than those with impact-induced concussions, particularly in the presence of PTSD and/or depression. These findings underscore the need to monitor and treat sleep issues during TBI recovery. Medical providers may consider additional follow up for those with HLB-induced concussions and comorbid PTSD or depression to ensure adequate treatment for sleep issues as a pathway to promote recovery and overall well-being.

Lingering and difficult-to-detect post-concussion sensorimotor impairments may contribute to an increased likelihood of subsequent musculoskeletal injury in the year after concussion for some adolescent athletes, particularly in the immediate months following return to sport. Currently, clinicians are unable to identify who is at higher risk of subsequent musculoskeletal injury following concussion. In this study, researchers sought to test for the first evidence of suppressed general startle reactivity in adolescent athletes with a recent concussion compared to those without a concussion history. Results suggest that general startle reactivity is a potential biomarker for concussion and may provide additional insight into the mechanisms of concussion and increased incidence of subsequent injuries.

Growing evidence suggests that peripheral biomarkers of inflammation, such as interleukin (IL)-6 and 1IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), are elevated acutely following concussion and potentially associated with slower recovery. The objective of this study was to determine the association of markers of inflammation with clinical symptoms and recovery following acute concussion in collegiate athletes and military service academy cadets. The researchers found that the association of symptoms and inflammatory markers was only significant at the 12- to 36-hour post-injury window. This study highlights that peripheral inflammation is associated with psychological symptoms observed post-injury, which have implications for observed clinical recovery and return to activity after concussion. Current results do not provide strong support for a potential prognostic role for these markers.