Epidemiology of Concussions Among United States High School Athletes in 20 Sports

In the United States (US), an estimated 300,000 sports-related concussions occur annually. Among individuals 15 to 24 years of age, sports are second only to motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of concussions. PURPOSE: To investigate the epidemiology of concussions in high school athletes by comparing rates and patterns of concussion among 20 sports. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study.

Using an Internet-based data collection tool, RIO, certified athletic trainers from a large, nationally disperse sample of US high schools reported athlete exposure and injury data for 20 sports during the 2008-2010 academic years.