University Club Sport Student-Athlete Concussion Profiles Differ by Sport and Sex

Abstract

Athletes’ history of concussions is an important indicator of risk potential in organized sports. The purpose of this project was to explore differences by sport classification (contact vs. noncontact) and sex on concussion history among university club sports participants. This was a cross-sectional quality improvement study ( n  =  593). The outcomes were self-reported answers to: (1) How many times have you been diagnosed with a concussion? and (2) How many times have you had your “bell rung”/“dinged”? Multivariable logistic regression models examined the association of contact club sport participation and sex on the history of concussion and prior experience of having their bell rung. Models were adjusted for age, race, participation in multiple sports, and years of participation in sports, and years in college. When compared to those in non-contact club sports, the adjusted odds of reporting ever having a concussion were 2.29 times higher for those participating in contact club sports (OR = 2.29; 95% CI: 1.49, 3.53). In the model for having a bell rung, those participating in a contact sport had 1.90 times greater odds of reporting having their bell rung in the past compared to those in noncontact sports (OR = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.25, 2.88). Whereas males and females did not differ in their self-reported concussion history, females had significantly lower odds of reporting having their bell rung in the past than males (OR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.30, 0.69). Female athletes have a higher reporting of concussion incidence than that of male athletes. The use of terminology and variance in slang versus medical terms has the potential to affect reporting outcomes. Reporting of concussion incidents has the potential to be influenced by the nature of sport culture and sport participation in contact versus noncontact sports. Club sport athletes could benefit from tailored education related to concussions based on these results.