But girls’ soccer players had the second-highest concussion rate of participants in the 12 sports studied, accounting for 7 percent of all concussions. Cheerleading, which had the lowest rate, still accounted for 5 percent of all concussions.
No one really knows why girls seem more prone, proportionately, to concussions. Girls may simply report injuries more readily than boys. Heavier muscles in boys’ necks and torsos may allow them to better absorb hits to the head.
(SUSAN BIDDLE/FOR THE WASHINGTON POST) - Hannah Zarnich, 15, suffered a concussion when she was hit in the back of the head with a volleyball serve in late February. She plans to rejoin on the team after she fully recovers.
Whatever the reason, parents, coaches and teammates need to step up their vigilance. There are 15 to 20 symptoms of a concussion, the most common of which are headache, dizziness and confusion.
But spotting head injuries is not always easy. Teen athletes may try to hide them, and reaction to a concussion can vary from victim to victim. A January study also revealed that girls may show different symptoms than boys. While both complained most often of headaches, boys were more likely to report amnesia and confusion, while girls cited drowsiness and sensitivity to noise.
Concussions “may present differently in girls and boys, differently in one girl from another girl, depending on the history of concussions and where in the brain the impact is,” Lincoln says.
A useful tool
Hannah enjoyed one lucky break in this frightening saga: She goes to Chantilly High. The school five years ago adopted the ImPACT program, under which every athlete, from football linemen to tennis players, takes a computerized base line test of cognitive functioning at the beginning of the season. Even though Hannah sustained her concussion playing for her club team, Castor was able to compare her memory, processing speed and reaction time against the results of the 20-minute test she took as a member of the school’s freshman volleyball team.
He also stepped in to vigorously manage her treatment. He had her excused from classes and homework, sending her home to sleep as much as she needed. He told her to stay off her cellphone, Facebook and video games. Her one job, he explained, was to rest her brain the way she would an injured muscle.
As Hannah slowly returns to school, Castor is testing her every other day. He can tell she’s improving, though some symptoms persist. Her prognosis is good, he says, but recovery from concussions can be unpredictable.
“He’s her advocate to the teachers,” says Elaine Zarnich. He tells Hannah, ‘if anyone gives you a hard time, I’m going to go in and talk to them.’ ”
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