THE EFFECT OF REPORTED SYMPTOMS AND OTHER FACTORS ON WHETHER HIGH-SCHOOL ATHLETES EXPERIENCE A TYPICAL OR PROLONGED RECOVERY TIME FROM SPORT-RELATED CONCUSSION

Abstract

This dissertation consisted of two studies designed to evaluate the symptomology and other factors present at the time of injury and their effects on recovery time of high school athletes who experience sport-related concussion. The first study examined the effect of the number of symptoms reported at the time of sport-related concussion injury on whether high school athletes experience a typical or prolonged recovery time. Within the first study, the total number of symptoms was represented by the number of symptoms that an athlete experienced at the time of injury. Athletes were designated as having a typical recovery time if they experienced symptom recovery within seven days. The prolonged recovery designation was reserved for athletes who took longer than seven days to recover but not more than 28 days to recover. A total of 1,313 cases of high school athletes from over 20 different sports that were included within the study. The average number of symptoms reported at the time of injury was 5.1 ± 2.79. The number of symptoms reported at the time of injury was found to be a significant predictor of a prolonged recovery period (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.21 – 1.32, p < 0.001). These findings indicate that for each additional symptom that an athlete reports at the time of injury, the chances of experiencing a prolonged recovery increases by approximately 26%. The second study aimed to determine if there were any symptoms or factors present at the time of injury that would predict a prolonged recovery time from sport-related concussion. Athletes were designated as having a typical or prolonged recovery based on the parameters mentioned above. A total of 1,313 cases of sport-related concussions from over 20 different high school sports were included in the study. A total of six symptoms and one other factor were found to be significant predictors of a prolonged recovery period in this high school population. Sex, specifically females, were found to be more likely to experience a prolonged recovery period (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.57 – 0.97, p = 0.03). The six symptoms found to be significant predictors of a prolonged recovery period were: balance issues (OR 1.48, CI 1.14 – 1.93, p = 0.003), difficulty concentrating (OR 1.74, CI 1.35 – 2.24, p <0.001), headache (OR 2.20, CI 1.03 – 4.71, p = 0.042), insomnia (OR 1.42, CI 1.07 – 1.89, p = 0.015), sensitivity to light (OR 1.35, CI 1.02 – 1.80, p = 0.039), and sensitivity to noise (OR 1.81, CI 1.35 – 2.42, p = <0.001). These findings indicate that high school athletes who report any of these symptoms or who are female may be at an increased risk of experiencing a prolonged recovery period from sport-related concussion. Overall, the findings from each study have implications into the clinical practice of healthcare practitioners who evaluate and care for high school athletes who experience sport-related concussions.