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. 2022 Jul 22;10(7):23259671221105257.
doi: 10.1177/23259671221105257. eCollection 2022 Jul.

Concussions in the Women's National Basketball Association: Analysis of Incidence, Return-to-Play Timing, and Player Performance From 1997 to 2020

Jasmine Walker  1 , Erick M Marigi  2 , Malik Dancy  2 , Kelechi R Okoroha  2 , F Daniel Kharrazi  3 , Nima Mehran  4
Affiliations

Concussions in the Women's National Basketball Association: Analysis of Incidence, Return-to-Play Timing, and Player Performance From 1997 to 2020

Jasmine Walker et al. Orthop J Sports Med. .

Abstract

Background: The extent to which concussions affect Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) athletes has not been thoroughly examined.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and impact of concussion injuries occurring in the WNBA.

Study design: Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods: Publicly available records were searched to identify all documented basketball-related concussions from WNBA seasons 1997 to 2020. Player demographics, injury details, and basketball career information were collected. Concussion incidence and return-to-play (RTP) timing were evaluated before and after the institution of the WNBA concussion protocol in 2012. Minutes per game and game score per minute were compared 5 games before and 5 games after the concussion was sustained. Player game availability and RTP performance were also compared with an age-, body mass index-, position-, and experience-matched control group of players who did not sustain any injuries during the index season.

Results: A total of 70 concussions among 55 players were reported in the WNBA from 1997 to 2020, with a mean incidence of 2.9 ± 2.3 concussions per season. After the implementation of the WNBA concussion protocol, the incidence significantly increased from 1.7 to 5.0 concussions per season (P < .001). All players returned after a first-time concussion, missing a mean of 3.8 ± 4.7 games and 17.9 ± 20.7 days. After the adoption of the concussion protocol, the time to RTP significantly increased with games missed (P = .006) and days missed (P = .006). Minutes per game and game score per minute were not significantly affected by sustaining a concussion (P = .451 and P = .826, respectively).

Conclusion: Since the adoption of the WNBA concussion protocol in the 2012 season, the incidence of concussions increased significantly. Athletes retained a high rate of RTP after missing a median of 4 games, and the time to RTP increased after the institution of the concussion protocol. Player game availability and performance within the same season were not significantly affected by concussion injuries after a successful RTP.

Keywords: Women’s National Basketball Association; basketball; concussion; performance; return to sport.

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Conflict of interest statement

One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: E.M.M. has received hospitality payments from Stryker. K.R.O. has received research support from Arthrex; education payments from Arthrex and Smith & Nephew; consulting fees from Endo Pharmaceuticals and Smith & Nephew; speaking fees from Arthrex; and hospitality payments from Medical Device Business Services, Stryker, Wright Medical, and Zimmer Biomet. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Formula for calculation of the game score.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Study inclusion flowchart demonstrating resultant groups utilized for data analysis, including the number of concussions (Nc) and number of players (Np) considered at each stage.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Number of concussions per season.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Kaplan-Meier analysis of survivorship free from repeat concussions categorized by occurrences before versus after the implementation of the concussion protocol.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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