Why are female footballers getting concussed more often than their male counterparts? A scoping review protocol

Abstract

Background

There has recently been an exponential increase in concussion-based research and literature along with a range of media exposure, secondary to a developing understanding of the effects of concussion, particularly in the long term. Despite the raft of concussion-based research being published there is a clear gap in understanding as to why female athletes are at a greater risk. Numerous epidemiological studies suggest that female football (soccer) players rate of concussion is much greater than male footballers. There is also evidence to suggest that females take longer to recover following a concussion.

Objective

The aim of the review proposed in this protocol is to identify possible mechanisms as to why female footballers are more at risk of a concussion and to highlight gaps in the literature to propose future research to improve the understanding of the topic. This review will map the literature on the gender gap regarding the rate of concussions in female football players.

Methods

The study design (scoping review) has been chosen to allow a broad search of literature and hypothesis generation. The scoping review proposed will be designed following evidence-based guidelines to ensure rigorous methodological quality.

Conclusion

The effect of a concussion in both the short and long term can be dramatic, and it is important that the reason(s) behind the increased risk for females is understood. This may provide valuable information for concussion education and prevention programmes.

Keywords:

• Brain concussion
• athletic injury
• female
• football
• sports medicine

Acknowledgements

Dr David Baxter, Professor, School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Thanks to David’s guidance and support in the initial phases of the development of this protocol. Mark Alcock, Masters Student, School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Thanks to Mark’s support as a fellow Masters student and for being willing to fulfil the job of second reviewer during the screening process of the scoping review.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rebecca Jane Blyth

Rebecca Jane Blyth is a current Masters of Physiotherapy (Sports Physiotherapy) student at the University of Otago. In final year of Masters study with a research focus on the increased rate of concussion in female football players. Working full time in private practice musculoskeletal physiotherapy in Auckland while undertaking my Masters study part time, along with being a keen competitive football player. This scoping review protocol leads into my final research project which is to undertake the study proposed in this protocol.

Steve Tumilty

Dr Steve Tumilty is one of the few clinician scientists in Physiotherapy Worldwide and one of only nine Registered Physiotherapy Specialists in New Zealand. He has an interest in blurring the boundaries between the manual therapy professions. The majority of his clinical experience has been in the outpatient musculoskeletal practice setting in UK, Germany and New Zealand. He also has experience in professional sports and Occupational Health Physiotherapy. In 2002 he came to work at the School of Physiotherapy, Otago University and he has developed and now coordinates the specialist Masters degree for Sports and Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy for which he provides teaching and clinical expertise. Dr Tumilty’s current research interests are in Tendinopathy, photobiomodulation, modulation of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary Axis using manual interventions, and the influence of the autonomic nervous system on musculoskeletal pain and healing.