Sports Concussion

Sports-related concussion (SRC) is a type of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) causing the brain to move within the skull.

Sports-related concussion (SRC) is a type of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head—or a hit to the body—that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. This sudden movement can disrupt normal brain function, leading to symptoms such as headache, dizziness, confusion, memory problems, nausea, and sensitivity to light or noise.

Concussions do not always cause loss of consciousness, and symptoms can appear immediately or hours later. They are functional injuries (affecting how the brain works) rather than structural injuries (like bleeding or fractures), which means they often don’t show up on standard brain imaging tests.

Concussions in High School Sports

In the U.S., concussions are most commonly seen among high school athletes, partly because this is a period of rapid growth and development, and athletes often play contact or collision sports at high intensity.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) consistently report that concussions make up a significant portion of all high school sports injuries.High school athletes also tend to take longer to recover compared to college or professional athletes.

Sports with the Highest Risk :

Concussions can happen in any sport, but some have a much higher risk:

Football
→ The leading cause of high school concussions (due to frequent collisions and tackling).
Girls’ Soccer
→ Has one of the highest rates, often from heading the ball, collisions, or falls.
Ice Hockey & Lacrosse
→ High speed, physical contact, and equipment use increase concussion risk.
Wrestling
→ Athletes may hit the mat or collide with opponents.
Basketball (especially girls’ basketball)
→ Contact, falls, and elbows to the head contribute.

Interestingly, studies show that female athletes may be at a greater risk of concussion than males in the same sport (like soccer or basketball), and they sometimes report more severe or longer-lasting symptoms.