Epidemiology of sport–related concussion among professional soccer players

Abstract

  When concussion is suspected during contact sports such as soccer, the athlete should not return to play the same day in order to prevent serious injury. The purpose of this study was to identify the rate of sport‒related concussion (SRC) injuries among players in the Japan Professional Soccer League (J League). We carried out a questionnaire survey of J League players to ask about SRC history, mechanisms of SRC, and knowledge of SRC. A total of 92 players from four J League clubs participated in the survey. Of these 92 players, 28 reported a history of concussion, with a total number of 35 concussions. Two players had suffered concussion three times, and three others twice; the remaining players had suffered concussion once. The most frequent mechanisms of injury were head‒to‒ball contact, head‒to‒ground surface contact, and head‒to‒head contact. The concussion rate was higher among high school age players. Physical growth, with the resultant increase in the size and weight of players, is considered to contribute to greater impact, and therefore to SRC in soccer. Most players, including those with a history of concussion, had limited knowledge about concussion. It is essential to strongly emphasize knowledge about SRC by providing concussion education to soccer players and coaches.