Sports medicine stats: Head impacts in college lacrosse
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
A recent study aimed to quantify the head impacts associated with practicing and playing collegiate lacrosse. 14 women’s and 15 men’s lacrosse players wore accelerometers to measure the frequency and severity of head impacts during official practices and games.
Men’s and women’s collegiate lacrosse players did not significantly differ in the number of head impacts received during games or practices. Men averaged 11.5 impacts in games, compared to 9.2 for women. In practices, male and female lacrosse players averaged 3.1 impacts per practice.
Source: American Journal of Sports Medicine, published online June 8, 2016
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
players wore accelerometers to measure the frequency and severity of head impacts during official practices and games.