Study: Laws Help Reduce Concussion Repeats

Courtney Cameron Headshot

Over the past 10 years, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have passed new laws governing head injury protocol in youth sports. The majority of those laws include requirements for educating coaches, athletes, trainers and parents about the effects of concussions, removing young athletes from play following a concussion, and being cleared to play by medical personnel.

A new study published Thursday in the American Journal of Public Health used a nationally representative sample of data from 100 high schools for each year between 2005 and 2015 to explore the effectiveness of these laws, passed between 2009 and 2014, on a state-by-state basis and found a marked decline in repeated concussions among teens.

Researchers analyzed state-specific concussion data from before and after laws went into effect, and found a similar trend in each state. Immediately after the laws were passed, the number of concussions in each state increased, which the study attributes to improvements in reporting practices and a greater awareness of the gravity of head injuries.

Log in to view the full article
AB Show 2023 in Baltimore
AB Show is a solution-focused event for athletics, fitness, recreation and military professionals.
Nov 1-4, 2023
Learn More
AB Show 2023
Buyer's Guide
Information on more than 3,000 companies, sorted by category. Listings are updated daily.
Learn More
Buyer's Guide