FEMALE BRAIN INJURY
What are the differences between males and females in terms of concussion frequency, severity, symptoms, outcomes, etc.?
From American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement: Concussion in Sport 2012,
Recent data suggest that in sports with similar rules female athletes sustain more concussions than their male counterparts.
In addition, female athletes experience or report a higher number and severity of symptoms as well as a longer duration of recovery than male athletes in several studies.
What are the clinical implications of these findings?
While research shows females may have different injury rates, symptoms, and rates of recovery, the medical community does not yet have any female-specific guidelines, protocols, care plans or education resources for women with brain injury including concussions. Since more men than women have brain injury, a woman and the people around her will most likely know more men than women who have had concussions and could judge her symptom pattern and length of recovery by the male experience.
The patient may doubt herself when the speed of her recovery or the severity of her symptoms do not match the male experience she knows. Family members, school staff or employers as judge her experience to be abnormal, malingering or view there maybe other non-brain injury issues at play. Without proper education of patient, family and community supports, women and girls with brain injury including concussion, can experience an additional lack of support, doubt, isolation and anxiety beyond that which comes with brain injury.