A new investigation by CBS News has discovered that there is a significant gender disparity in concussion research. The majority of the studies on this topic have been conducted on male athletes, potentially putting female athletes at risk.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 2.5 million Americans suffer from traumatic brain injuries every year. Concussions are among the most common types of these injuries and can have long-lasting effects if not treated properly.
Despite this alarming statistic, a large portion of research has focused only on male athletes. This leaves women who participate in sports without proper care for concussions they may experience during games or practices.
The CBS News investigation found that some researchers believe women are more susceptible to concussions than men due to differences in neck strength and hormonal fluctuations throughout their menstrual cycle. However, these theories have yet to be fully tested because of the lack of attention given towards studying how concussions affect female athletes.
The issue is further compounded by the fact that many coaches and trainers often overlook or downplay potential head injuries experienced by female players since they tend not to display as many outward signs as males do when they suffer from a concussion.
This lack of attention paid towards concussion research could lead to serious long-term consequences for women who play sports at all levels, from high school teams to college squads and even professional leagues.
As more awareness is brought about regarding this serious issue through investigations like those conducted by CBS News, it is hoped that future studies will address this gender gap in concussion research so that both male and female athletes can receive proper care should they experience a head injury while playing their sport.