Sports Injuries and Academic Performance

After a sports-related injury, high school and college students can have trouble returning to their studies. But research from the American Journal of Public Health reveals that concussed students are particularly at-risk. The researchers found that students with extremity injuries had more trouble in school than uninjured students, and concussed students performed even worse. One component of the study was a questionnaire which ranked academic dysfunction on a scale from 0 to 174. One week after injury, the average score for non-concussed students was 48, while that of concussed students was 68. These numbers stabilized after approximately one month, except for students with a history of multiple concussions. Sports injuries in students highlight the importance of proper protection and injury prevention for both academic performance and overall well-being. Student athletes should always consult with healthcare providers to help ensure effective protection and prevention against injury. Many DCs (Doctors of Chiropractic) are experts in providing sports physicals and assistance in equipping athletes with the best possible protection. DCs can also treat soft-tissue injuries from sports-related activities, minimizing recovery time and post-injury stress, and are a valuable member of a student athlete's healthcare team.