Helmets in women's lacrosse: what the evidence shows

Abstract

US Women's lacrosse ranks second only to American football in incidence rate of concussions , according to a study that compiled data from over 200 high schools and 26 colleges [1]. Other studies confirm head injury is a significant risk in the sport; the largest, an epidemiological study using over 1 million athletic exposures in high school and college men's and women's lacrosse over four seasons, found that although women's lacrosse has a no-contact rule, women players had a higher rate of head, face and eye injuries than men; 40% of these injuries were concussions [2]. Stick or ball contact is the primary mechanism of injury to the head in women's lacrosse. In men's lacrosse, a contact sport, most concussions arise from player collisions. Men's lacrosse requires a full protective helmet but, until now, the only approved headgear for women's lacrosse has been eye protection. For the first time this season, women's lacrosse players have the option to wear approved headgear. Following a concussion, immediate neuro-logical symptoms (i.e., dizziness, confusion, disorientation and blurred vision) generally resolve spontaneously, and no abnormalities are typically found on routine imaging (computed tomography or MRI); however, prolonged symptoms are more likely to occur following a more severe hit or when an athlete has suffered more than one concussion [3].