Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the neuropsychological functioning and symptoms of female and male high school athletes following a single concussion during the school year. The baseline test scores of the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) of 309 concussed athletes (169 females, 221 males) in varied sports were obtained. After a sport-related concussion, the athletes were re-administered the ImPACT, on the average, 7.25 days after the injury. MANCOVA compared the ImPACT baseline scores, post-concussion scores, and baseline-to-post-concussion changes of the female and male athletes, with p set at 0.01. The only significant sex comparison found females performing better on baseline visual motor speed (p < 0.001). Otherwise, no sex differences were found in baseline test scores, post-concussion scores, and baseline-to-post-concussion changes. The findings tentatively suggest that there are insignificant sex differences in the consequences of sport-related concussion after a week post-injury. Future studies on sex comparisons after a concussion are needed focusing on the acute and sub-acute phases of the recovery period.

摘要

本研究的目的是比较女性和男性高中运动员在学年中单次脑震荡后的神经心理功能和症状。获得了 309 名脑震荡运动员（169 名女性，221 名男性）在各种运动项目中的脑震荡后即时评估和认知测试 (ImPACT) 的基线测试分数。在与运动相关的脑震荡后，运动员在受伤后平均 7.25 天重新接受了 ImPACT。MANCOVA 比较了女性和男性运动员的 ImPACT 基线评分、脑震荡后评分和基线到脑震荡后的变化，p设定为 0.01。唯一显着的性别比较发现女性在基线视觉运动速度上表现更好（p < 0.001)。否则，在基线测试分数、脑震荡后分数和基线到脑震荡后的变化中没有发现性别差异。研究结果初步表明，在受伤一周后，与运动相关的脑震荡的后果没有显着的性别差异。未来关于脑震荡后性别比较的研究需要关注恢复期的急性和亚急性阶段。