Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Female Collegiate Athletes’ Concussion Characteristics and Recovery Patterns: A Report from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium

  • S.I. : Concussions II
  • Published:
Annals of Biomedical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Concussion has been described in the United States (US) collegiate student–athlete population, but female-specific findings are often underrepresented and underreported. Our study aimed to describe female collegiate student–athletes’ initial injury characteristics and return to activity outcomes following concussion. Female collegiate student–athletes (n = 1393) from 30-US institutions experienced a concussion and completed standardized, multimodal concussion assessments from pre-injury through unrestricted return to play (uRTP) in this prospective, longitudinal cohort study. Initial injury presentation characteristics, assessment, and return to activity outcomes [<48-h (acute), return to learn, initiate return to play (iRTP), uRTP] were collected. We used descriptive statistics to report injury characteristics, return to activity outcomes, and post-injury assessment performance change categorization (worsened, unchanged, improved) based on change score confidence rank criteria across sport contact classifications [contact (n = 661), limited (n = 446), non-contact (n = 286)]. The median (25th to 75th percentile) days to return to learn was 6.0 (3.0–10.0), iRTP was 8.1 (4.8–13.8), and uRTP was 14.8 (9.9–24.0), but varied by contact classification. Across contact levels, the majority experienced worse SCAT total symptom severity (72.8–82.6%), ImPACT reaction time (91.2–92.6%), and BSI-18 total score (45.2–51.8%) acutely relative to baseline, but unchanged BESS total errors (58.0–60.9%), SAC total score (71.5–76.1%), and remaining ImPACT domains (50.6–66.5%). Our findings provide robust estimates of the typical female collegiate student–athlete presentation and recovery trajectory following concussion, with overall similar findings to the limited female collegiate student–athlete literature. Overall varying confidence rank classification was observed acutely. Our findings provide clinically-relevant insights for athletes, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to inform efforts specific to females experiencing concussion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

The CARE Consortium datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available in the FITBIR Repository (https://fitbir.nih.gov/).

Code Availability

Not applicable.

References

  1. Rosenthal, J. A., R. E. Foraker, C. L. Collins, and R. D. Comstock. National high school athlete concussion rates from 2005–2006 to 2011–2012. Am. J. Sports Med. 42(7):1710–1715, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546514530091.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Kerr, Z. Y., K. G. Roos, A. Djoko, et al. Epidemiologic measures for quantifying the incidence of concussion in National Collegiate Athletic Association sports. J. Athl. Train. 52(3):167–174, 2017. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-51.6.05.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. O’Connor, K. L., M. M. Baker, S. L. Dalton, T. P. Dompier, S. P. Broglio, and Z. Y. Kerr. Epidemiology of sport-related concussions in high school athletes: National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network (NATION), 2011–2012 through 2013–2014. J. Athl. Train. 52(3):175–185, 2017. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-52.1.15.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Chandran, A., A. J. Boltz, S. N. Morris, et al. Epidemiology of concussions in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports: 2014/15–2018/19. Am. J. Sports Med. 50(2):526–536, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1177/03635465211060340.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Combs, P. R., C. B. Ford, K. R. Campbell, K. A. Carneiro, and J. P. Mihalik. Influence of self-reported fatigue and sex on baseline concussion assessment scores. Orthop. J. Sports Med. 7(1):2325967118817515, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1177/2325967118817515.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Covassin, T., R. J. Elbin, E. Larson, and A. P. Kontos. Sex and age differences in depression and baseline sport-related concussion neurocognitive performance and symptoms. Clin. J. Sport Med. 22(2):98–104, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0b013e31823403d2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Covassin, T., R. J. Elbin, W. Harris, T. Parker, and A. Kontos. The role of age and sex in symptoms, neurocognitive performance, and postural stability in athletes after concussion. Am. J. Sports Med. 40(6):1303–1312, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546512444554.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Master, C. L., B. P. Katz, K. B. Arbogast, et al. Differences in sport-related concussion for female and male athletes in comparable collegiate sports: a study from the NCAA-DoD Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium. Br. J. Sports Med. 55(24):1387–1394, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-103316.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Gallagher, V. T., N. Kramer, K. Abbott, et al. The effects of sex differences and hormonal contraception on outcomes following collegiate sports-related concussion. J Neurotrauma. 35(11):1242–1247, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2017.5453.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Brooks, B. L., N. Silverberg, B. Maxwell, et al. Investigating effects of sex differences and prior concussions on symptom reporting and cognition among adolescent soccer players. Am. J. Sports Med. 46(4):961–968, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546517749588.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Resch, J. E., A. Rach, S. Walton, and D. K. Broshek. Sport concussion and the female athlete. Clin. Sports Med. 36(4):717–739, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csm.2017.05.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. D’Lauro, C., E. R. Jones, L. M. Swope, M. N. Anderson, S. Broglio, and J. D. Schmidt. Under-representation of female athletes in research informing influential concussion consensus and position statements: an evidence review and synthesis. Br. J. Sports Med. 56(17):981–987, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2021-105045.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Broglio, S. P., B. P. Katz, S. Zhao, M. McCrea, T. McAllister, and CARE Consortium Investigators. Test–retest reliability and interpretation of common concussion assessment tools: findings from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium. Sports Med. Auckl. NZ 48(5):1255–1268, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0813-0.

  14. Iverson, G. L. Reliable change index. In: Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology, edited by J. S. Kreutzer, J. DeLuca, and B. Caplan. Springer, 2011, pp. 2150–2153. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_1242.

  15. Chandran, A., S. N. Morris, E. B. Wasserman, A. J. Boltz, and C. L. Collins. Methods of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program, 2014–2015 through 2018–2019. J. Athl. Train. 56(7):616–621, 2021. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-406-20.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Lempke, L. B., A. Chandran, A. J. Boltz, H. J. Robison, C. L. Collins, and S. N. Morris. Epidemiology of injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association women’s basketball: 2014–2015 through 2018–2019. J. Athl. Train. 56(7):674–680, 2021. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-466-20.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Lempke, L. B., E. F. Teel, R. C. Lynall, et al. Early exercise is associated with faster concussion recovery among collegiate athletes: findings from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium. Sports Med. 53:1987–1999, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01861-w. 

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Broglio, S. P., M. McCrea, T. McAllister, et al. A national study on the effects of concussion in collegiate athletes and US Military Service Academy Members: the NCAA–DoD Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium structure and methods. Sports Med. 47(7):1437–1451, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0707-1.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. von Elm, E., D. G. Altman, M. Egger, S. J. Pocock, P. C. Gøtzsche, and J. P. Vandenbroucke. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. J. Clin. Epidemiol. 61(4):344–349, 2008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2007.11.008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Iverson, G. L., A. J. Gardner, D. P. Terry, et al. Predictors of clinical recovery from concussion: a systematic review. Br. J. Sports Med. 51(12):941–948, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-097729.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Houston, M. N., K. L. V. Pelt, C. D’Lauro, et al. Test–retest reliability of concussion baseline assessments in United States Service Academy Cadets: a Report from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)-Department of Defense (DoD) CARE Consortium. J. Int. Neuropsychol. Soc. 27(1):23–34, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617720000594.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. McCrory, P., W. Meeuwisse, J. Dvorak, et al. Consensus statement on concussion in sport—the 5th international conference on concussion in sport held in Berlin, October 2016. Br. J. Sports Med. 51(11):838–847, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-097699.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Medicine BPGL and BA of S and E. Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-3rd Edition. Br. J. Sports Med. 47(5):259–259, 2013.

  24. Guskiewicz, K. M., J. Register-Mihalik, P. McCrory, et al. Evidence-based approach to revising the SCAT2: introducing the SCAT3. Br. J. Sports Med. 47(5):289–293, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2013-092225.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. McCrea, M., J. P. Kelly, J. Kluge, B. Ackley, and C. Randolph. Standardized assessment of concussion in football players. Neurology. 48(3):586–588, 1997. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.48.3.586.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. McCrea, M., J. P. Kelly, C. Randolph, et al. Standardized assessment of concussion (SAC): on-site mental status evaluation of the athlete. J. Head Trauma Rehabil. 13(2):27–35, 1998. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001199-199804000-00005.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Guskiewicz, K. M., S. E. Ross, and S. W. Marshall. Postural stability and neuropsychological deficits after concussion in collegiate athletes. J. Athl. Train. 36(3):263–273, 2001.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Derogatis, L. R. BSI 18, Brief Symptom Inventory 18: Administration, scoring and Procedure Manual. Minneapolis, MN: NCS Pearson, Incorporated, 2001.

  29. Schatz, P., J. Pardini, M. Lovell, M. Collins, and K. Podell. Sensitivity and specificity of the ImPACT Test Battery for concussion in athletes. Arch. Clin. Neuropsychol. 21(1):91–99, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acn.2005.08.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Rice, S. G., and The Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. Medical conditions affecting sports participation. Pediatrics 121(4):841–848, 2008. doi: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-0080.

  31. Wasserman, E., Z. Y. Kerr, S. L. Zuckerman, and T. Covassin. Epidemiology of sports-related concussions in National Collegiate Athletic Association athletes from 2009–2010 to 2013–2014: symptom prevalence, symptom resolution time, and return-to-play time. Am. J. Sports Med. 44(1):226–233, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546515610537.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Roby, P. R., A. E. Mozel, K. B. Arbogast, et al. Post-injury outcomes following non-sport related concussion: a CARE Consortium Study. J. Athl. Train., 2023. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0181.23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Anderson, M. N., L. B. Lempke, R. S. Johnson, R. C. Lynall, and J. D. Schmidt. Concussion characteristics and early post-injury outcomes between college students and intercollegiate athletes. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 103(2):323–330, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2021.09.013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Resch, J. E., C. N. Brown, J. Schmidt, et al. The sensitivity and specificity of clinical measures of sport concussion: three tests are better than one. BMJ Open Sport Exerc. Med. 2(1):e000012, 2016.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Garcia, G. G. P., Broglio S. P., Lavieri M. S., McCrea M., McAllister T., and CARE Consortium Investigators. Quantifying the value of multidimensional assessment models for acute concussion: an analysis of data from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium. Sports Med. 48(7):1739–1749, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0880-x.

  36. Lempke, L. B., D. R. Howell, J. T. Eckner, and R. C. Lynall. Examination of reaction time deficits following concussion: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Med. 50(7):1341–1359, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01281-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Lempke, L. B., R. S. Johnson, J. D. Schmidt, and R. C. Lynall. Clinical versus functional reaction time: implications for postconcussion management. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 52(8):1650–1657, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002300.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Lempke, L. B., J. R. Oldham, S. Passalugo, et al. Influential factors and preliminary reference data for a clinically feasible, functional reaction time assessment: the standardized assessment of reaction time. J. Athl. Train. 58(2):112–119, 2023. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0073.22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Lempke, L. B., S. Passalugo, B. T. Baranker, et al. Relationship and latent factors between clinical concussion assessments and the functional, standardized assessment of reaction time (StART). Clin. J. Sport Med. 32(6):e591–e597, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0000000000001061.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Lempke, L. B., E. J. Shumski, T. A. Prato, and R. C. Lynall. Reliability and minimal detectable change of the standardized assessment of reaction time (StART). J. Athl. Train. 58(6):579–587, 2023. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0391.22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Sinnott, A. M., et al. Test–retest, interrater reliability, and minimal detectable change of the dynamic exertion test (EXiT) for concussion. Sports Health. 15(3):410–421, 2023. 

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Kochick, V., A. M. Sinnott, S. R. Eagle, et al. The dynamic exertion test for sport-related concussion: a comparison of athletes at return-to-play and healthy controls. Int. J. Sports Physiol. Perform. 1(aop):1–10, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2021-0258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Baugh, C. M., W. P. Meehan, T. G. McGuire, and L. A. Hatfield. Staffing, financial, and administrative oversight models and rates of injury in collegiate athletes. J. Athl. Train. 55(6):580–586, 2020. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0517.19.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Baugh, C. M., E. Kroshus, B. L. Lanser, T. R. Lindley, and W. P. Meehan. Sports medicine staffing across National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, II, and III schools: evidence for the medical model. J. Athl. Train. 55(6):573–579, 2020. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0463-19.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Putukian, M., B. A. D’Alonzo, C. S. Campbell-McGovern, and D. J. Wiebe. The Ivy League-Big Ten Epidemiology of Concussion Study: a report on methods and first findings. Am. J. Sports Med. 47(5):1236–1247, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546519830100.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Bretzin, A. C., C. Esopenko, B. A. D’Alonzo, and D. J. Wiebe. Clinical recovery timelines after sport-related concussion in men’s and women’s collegiate sports. J. Athl. Train. 57(7):678–687, 2021. https://doi.org/10.4085/601-20.

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would also like to thank Jody Harland, Janetta Matesan, Michael Menser (Indiana University School of Medicine); Ashley Rettmann, Nicole L’Heureux (University of Michigan); Melissa McEachern (Medical College of Wisconsin); Michael Jarrett, Vibeke Brinck, and Bianca Byrne, (Quesgen); Melissa Baker, Christy Collins, Will Felix, Bethany Morath (Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research and Prevention); and the research and medical staff at each of the CARE participation sites. We are grateful for the participation of the student–athletes without whom this research would not be possible.

The authors would also like to thank non-authorship members of the CARE Working Group consisting of the following individuals for their help and support: Kristy Arbogast, PhD and Patricia R. Roby, PhD, ATC (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia); Stacey Harcum, DrPH, Kalyn C. Jannace, PhD, MPH, and Franseca Scott (Uniformed Services University); Tamerah N. Hunt, PhD, ATC (Georgia Southern University); Dianne Langford, PhD and Jane McDevitt, PhD, ATC (Temple University); Susan Perkins, PhD (Indiana University), and Jessica Wallace (University of Alabama).

Contributing manuscript individuals under the CARE Consortium Investigators title include: Scott A. Anderson, ATC (Retired; formerly University of Oklahoma); M. Allison Brooks, MD, MPH (University of Wisconsin-Madison); Thomas W. Kaminski, PhD, ATC (University of Delaware); Kenneth L. Cameron, PhD, MPH, ATC (United States Military Academy); Christopher D’Lauro, PhD (United States Air Force Academy); Anthony P. Kontos, PhD (University of Pittsburgh); Stefan Duma, PhD (Virginia Tech); Luis A. Feigenbaum, PT, DPT, ATC (University of Miami); Christopher C. Giza, MD and Joshua T. Goldman, MD, MBA (University of California-Los Angeles); April Hoy, MS, ATC (Azusa Pacific University); and Justus Ortega, PhD (California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt).

Funding

This study was made possible, in part, with support from the Grand Alliance Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education Consortium, funded by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Department of Defense. The US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, 820 Chandler Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702-5014, USA is the awarding and administering acquisition office. This work was supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs through the Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Program under Award No. W81XWH-14-2-0151. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Defense (Defense Health Program funds).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Landon B. Lempke, Reid A. Syrydiuk & Steven P. Broglio

  2. Exercise and Sport Science Initiative, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Landon B. Lempke

  3. School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Jaclyn B. Caccese

  4. Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA

    Thomas A. Buckley

  5. Division of Adolescent Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Sara P. D. Chrisman

  6. Departments of Community Health Family Medicine and Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    James R. Clugston

  7. Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    James T. Eckner

  8. Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Elsa Ermer

  9. Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Carrie Esopenko & Divya Jain

  10. Department of Exercise Science, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA

    Louise A. Kelly

  11. Department of Health, Exercise & Sports Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Allyssa K. Memmini

  12. Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Anne E. Mozel & Christina L. Master

  13. Major League Soccer, Princeton, NJ, USA

    Margot Putukian

  14. Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, USA

    Adam Susmarski

  15. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Elsa Ermer & Paul F. Pasquina

  16. Center for Neurotrauma Research, Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Michael A. McCrea

  17. Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Thomas W. McAllister

  18. Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Christina L. Master

  19. 830 North University Avenue, Suite 4000, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Landon B. Lempke

Authors
  1. Landon B. Lempke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jaclyn B. Caccese
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Reid A. Syrydiuk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Thomas A. Buckley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sara P. D. Chrisman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. James R. Clugston
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. James T. Eckner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Elsa Ermer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Carrie Esopenko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Divya Jain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Louise A. Kelly
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Allyssa K. Memmini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Anne E. Mozel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Margot Putukian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Adam Susmarski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. Paul F. Pasquina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. Michael A. McCrea
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. Thomas W. McAllister
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  19. Steven P. Broglio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  20. Christina L. Master
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Consortia

CARE Consortium Investigators

Contributions

LBL conceived this specific plan for this report, carried out the statistical analyses and drafted the manuscript; EE and JC participated in the statistical analysis; PFP, MAM, TWM, and SPB participated in the study design and coordination, and conceived the original overarching study. All authors have read, provided feedback, and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Landon B. Lempke.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

All disclosures below are not directly related to the current project, but are reported for full transparency to readers. Dr. Landon Lempke has current or prior funding unrelated to the current project from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association, VALD, internally from university affiliations, and has received various speaker honorarium and travel reimbursement for talks given. Dr. Thomas Buckley reports current or prior funding from NIH, Henry F. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, and State Space, Inc. Dr. James Clugston reports current or prior funding from the NFL, and a stipend for serving on an institutional Data Safety Monitoring Board. Dr. James Eckner reports current or prior funding from NIH, NSF, and internal university funding. Dr. Eckner also reports being a co-author (stipend received) for a book chapter in “Concussion Management for Wheelchair Athletes”, on the editorial board (unpaid) for the journal Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and a co-inventor on US Patent #8657295, and a Data and Safety Monitoring Board Member for an unrelated NIH Project. Dr. Margot Putukian reports the following committee and position roles: CMO for MLS, Senior Advisor NFL HN&S Committee, FA Research Task Force, CISG Expert Group, NOCSAE SAC. Dr. Putukian also receives royalties from Netters Sports Medicine textbook, and UpToDate chapter. Dr. Michael McCrea has received research funding from the NIH, CDC, DoD, NCAA, NFL, and Abbott Laboratories. Dr. Thomas McAllister reports current or prior grant support from NIH, DoD, and NCAA, as well as textbook royalties from the “Textbook of Traumatic Brain Injury” from the American Psychiatric Association Publishing, Inc., and is an unpaid member for the concussion Scientific Advisory Committee for the Australian-Rules Football Conference. Dr. Steven Broglio has current or past research funding from the NIH, CDC, DoD, NCAA, NATA, NFL/Under Armour/GE; Simbex; and ElmindA. Dr. Broglio has consulted for US Soccer (paid), US Cycling (unpaid), University of Calgary SHRed Concussions external advisory board (unpaid), medico-legal litigation, and received speaker honorarium and travel reimbursements for talks given. Dr. Broglio is also a co-author of “Biomechanics of Injury (3rd edition)” and has a patent pending on “Brain Metabolism Monitoring Through CCO Measurements Using All-Fiber-Integrated Super-Continuum Source” (U.S. Application No. 17/164490). Lastly, Dr. Broglio is on the and is/was on the editorial boards (all unpaid) for Journal of Athletic Training (2015 to present), Concussion (2014 to present), Athletic Training and Sports Health Care (2008 to present), and British Journal of Sports Medicine (2008 to 2019).

Ethical Approval

The study was performed in accordance with the standards of ethics outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. All study procedures were reviewed and approved by the University of Michigan IRB, the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command Human Research Protection Office (HRPO), as well the local IRB at each of the performance sites.

Informed Consent

Participants provided written informed consent prior to participation.

Additional information

Associate Editor Jillian Urban oversaw the review of this article.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Members of the ‘CARE Consortium Investigators’ are listed in the Acknowledgements section.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lempke, L.B., Caccese, J.B., Syrydiuk, R.A. et al. Female Collegiate Athletes’ Concussion Characteristics and Recovery Patterns: A Report from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium. Ann Biomed Eng (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-023-03367-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-023-03367-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation