Concussion Reporting Critical Among Football Players Surveyed for Short-Term Management and Lifelong Functioning

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to explore the impact of unreported concussions of former contact football players' short-term management, and lifelong functioning. The purpose is to understand the prevalence of unreported concussions, acute healthcare management of these injuries, and the long-term implications of former players' neurologic health. DESIGN: We surveyed 282 former high school and college contact football players. The survey retrospectively assessed diagnosed, self-reported head injuries, nonfootball concussions, acute healthcare management, acute unreported concussion, concealing long-term symptoms, and long-term neurologic implications. RESULTS: Analyses revealed that 36.5% of the participants did not report a head injury to their peers or their sport leadership. Respondents who did not report a head injury, characterized as meeting one or more of the criteria for a concussion were 4 times more likely to experience acute neurologic symptoms and 3.3 times more likely to have late-onset neurologic symptoms compared to respondents who did not report concealing their head injuries. CONCLUSIONS: The most at-risk group of respondents with head injuries that may have resulted in concussion are those who conceal their symptoms. This study demonstrates the prevalence of unreported concussions among football players and the need for improved healthcare management. Policy changes are required to reduce the number of athletes who are concealing their symptoms.