The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between a history of concussions and recovery time in NCAA Division II male and female collegiate athletes. The secondary purpose was to determine if there is a difference in gender when it comes to concussion recovery. This was a cohort study conducted over a period of 16 weeks. The participants in this study were male (N=3) and female (N=4) student-athletes, ages 18-21 years, who had been evaluated by a Certified Athletic Trainer and deemed as having sustained a concussion. The independent variables for this study were the concussed athletes, concussion hist01ies of student-athletes and their gender. The dependent variables for this study were scores on the Standard Assessment of Concussion (SAC) test, and Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) test, and the Graded Symptom Scale Checklist from baseline, post-injury, and return-to-baseline testing, and recovery time. When a student-athlete was diagnosed with a concussion, the team's assigned ATC reported the concussion to the researcher. The researcher recorded the student-athlete's history of concussions and then monitored how long their recovery took. Full clearance would be granted when the athlete retums to within two points of their baseline levels of the SAC and BESS tests, and reports absolutely no symptoms on the Graded Symptoms Scale Checklist, reports no use of pain medication, completes the final day of the retum to play (RTP) protocol, and reports no concussion symptoms 24 hours after the last day of the RTP protocol. The findings show that there was no significant difference (p<0.05) between history of concussion and recovery time. The findings also show that there was no statistical difference between gender and recovery time (p<0.05). The results from the Mann-Whitney U test testing concussion history and time out of sport showed that there was no significant difference between recovery time and history of concussion (p=0.571). The results from the second Mann-Whitney U test showed that there was no significant difference between gender and recovery time (p=0.057). Female participants averaged 21.33 ±9.29 days missed from sport with a range of 15-32 days, and the male participants averaged I 0.25 ±2.63 days missed from sport with a range of 8-14 days. The average number of days missed from sport for those with a concussion history was 12.60 ±3.91 days, with a range of 8-17 days. The average of days missed for those without a concussion history was 21.00 ± 15.56 days, with a range of 10-32 days missed. Though there was no significance between gender and recovery time, the outcome approaches significance, showing that women were taking longer to recover than men. This study can be used to add to the ever growing collection of concussion data. Athletic trainers and other health care professionals can use the data collected in this study to better treat concussions in their athletes. Having the knowledge of average recovery time (7-1 0 days) from concussions, dependent on gender and concussion history, will allow medical professionals to better educate athletes, coaches and parents about what they can expect.
