Sex and number of concussions influence the association between concussion and musculoskeletal injury history in collegiate athletes.

OBJECTIVES: Examine the association between concussion and lower extremity injury in collegiate athletes and the influence of sex and the number of concussions on this relationship.

METHODS: A total of 468 collegiate student-athletes (200 Males, 268 Females) were recruited from collegiate athletic facilities of three universities to participate in this retrospective review. Participants provided injury history (concussions, ankle sprains, and knee injuries) information through a survey. Chi-square tests and odds ratios examined the relationship between concussion and ankle sprain or knee injury history within each sex and based on concussion history (0, 1, >1).

RESULTS: Females athletes with a concussion history had greater odds of reporting an ankle sprain or knee injury compared to females with no concussion history (OR = 1.88-2.54; p ≤ 0.020). Male athletes with a concussion history did not have greater odds of reporting an ankle sprain or knee injury. Athletes reporting multiple concussions had the greatest odds of ankle sprain or knee injury history compared to athletes with no previous concussions (OR = 2.43-2.56; p ≤ 0.004). No differences were identified between athletes with a single or multiple concussion history.

CONCLUSION: Female athletes with a concussion history or participants with a multiple concussion history had the greatest odds of reporting an ankle or knee injury history compared to athletes with no concussion history.