Study: Concussion symptoms can occur from playing sports without blows to head

By Mark Waghorn via SWNS

Concussion-style symptoms can occur after running, swimming, or playing tennis without any blow to the head, according to new research.

Some, such as fatigue and neck pain, are simply caused by vigorous exercise.

The study suggests diagnosing sports-related concussions is harder than previously thought.

First author Stephanie Iring, a doctoral candidate at Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, said: "Our findings highlight the importance of considering the effects of exercise and fatigue in assessing concussion in athletes on the field.

"While players with a head impact may report more symptoms generally, we have to be cautious in using all symptoms since some are common after intense exercise even when there was no head impact."

The team assessed 209 rugby players - 80 of whom had experienced a head impact and 129 who had not.

They were subjected to a sports concussion assessment tool (SCAT) widely used by governing bodies.

It includes questions about 'red flag' symptoms such as neck pain, headache, muscle weakness and vision problems - as well as tests on memory and balance.

Scores were compared between 80 participants who sustained a blow to the head during intense matches with 129 who had not.

The former group had an average of 26 symptoms on the scale - significantly more than the others.

But many of the latter had symptoms that were similar to those reported by head-injured players - including fatigue and neck pain.

Most previous trials of the standardized technique have been based on athletes with head injuries and peers at rest.

Ms. Iring said: "Our data shows exertion during a match increased the number and severity of self-reported symptoms in control players - even though they had not experienced a head impact.

"This could lead to difficulty differentiating these players from those that had experienced a head impact when using on-field assessments."

Some, including headaches and "not feeling right," were more closely associated with having a head injury.

They might be a stronger indicator of concussion in players that have just finished an intense game, said the researchers.

Other categories that were more common included effects on vision, emotions and hypersensitivity to noise.

The researchers said further work is needed to see how the components can combine with current physiological measures to better assess concussion.

Effects - usually caused by a bang on the head - can be serious and long-lasting. From dizziness to memory loss, they are associated with a range of unpleasant symptoms.

Traumatic brain injuries have increasingly been in the spotlight, owing to their links with dementia.

Mounting evidence over the potential dangers of head contact has led to increased awareness in football, boxing and rugby.

Under 12s have been banned from heading soccer balls in training in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Restrictions have also been placed on under-18s.

Ms. Iring presented the research at an American Physiological Society meeting in Philadelphia.