Evidence Lacking on Ways to Prevent Youth Sports Concussion

By Kelly Young

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Jaye Elizabeth Hefner, MD

A group of 11 experts has devised a consensus statement on effective methods of preventing concussion in sports for those aged 18 and under. The group was limited in its ability to make many recommendations because of the lack of quality evidence. Among the 26 recommendations, published in JAMA Pediatrics:

• Sport-specific contact techniques should be taught before contact or collision is introduced to a sport.

• In ice hockey games, body checking should be delayed until 13 years.

• In football practice, limiting contact and collision should be considered.

• Athletes should wear helmets when playing sports with high risk for head contact, including football, ice hockey, boys' lacrosse, skiing, bicycling, and skateboarding. There is not enough evidence to recommend the existing headgear for rugby or soccer.

• The number of concussions sustained by a youth player should not be the only factor in their decision to retire from contact or collision sports. This decision should be based on overall risks and benefits to continuing play.