Youth Soccer-Related Concussions Show Large Increase Over Last 25 Years

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and André Sofair, MD, MPH

The annual rate of soccer-related concussion or other closed head injuries among U.S. children increased by approximately 1600% — from roughly 2 to 35 per 10,000 participants — from 1990 to 2014, a Pediatrics study finds.

Using national injury and sports participation databases, researchers estimated that nearly 3 million children aged 7 to 17 years were treated for soccer-related injuries in U.S. emergency departments during the 25 years. The overall annual injury rate more than doubled during this period. Sprains/strains accounted for 35% of injuries, fractures for 23%, soft-tissue injuries for 22%, and concussions for 7%.

Children aged 12 to 17 accounted for nearly three-fourths of injuries and were more likely than younger children to experience concussions/closed head injuries. Those with concussions/closed head injuries were twice as likely to be admitted to the hospital as those with other injuries.