Recovering from a concussion typically takes female athletes more than twice as long as males, according to a new study that tracked hundreds of teenagers active in sports. The finding adds to a growing body of evidence that vulnerability to this injury—and aspects of the healing process—may vary by sex. Their analysis revealed the median recovery time for girls was 28 days—more than double that of boys, which was 11 days.
Across the sexes, concussion is common in contact sports such as soccer and hockey, where heads bang and helmets clash. Concussion risk factors—and how they may differ by sex—require further scrutiny. Understanding what preinjury conditions are associated with recovery has important implications for treatment.