The nature and duration of acute concussive symptoms in Australian football

Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study was to document the nature and temporal profile of the clinical symptoms of acute sport-related concussion. Design: Prospective cohort study Patient Population: A total of 303 elite Australian football players participating in a national competition during a single season. Outcome Measures: Number and duration of symptoms, digit symbol substitution test (DSST) scores, time of return to play post injury. Results: A total of 23 concussions were recorded over the course of the 20-week football season. No catastrophic head injuries occurred. Headache was the most common symptom and the most persistent, with 40% of players reporting headache symptoms lasting more t..