Capitol News

This year's Super Bowl will see the Philadelphia Eagles face off against the Kansas City Chiefs, as they aim for a historic third consecutive win. The game concludes a football season that also featured the first-ever 12-team college football playoff. As these high-contact sports grow in popularity, concussions remain a frequent issue among athletes.

An estimated 3.8 million sport- and recreation-related concussions occur annually in the United States. While physical symptoms are often prioritized when assessing an athlete's readiness to return post-concussion, psychological effects are equally significant.

Reid Davis, a dual doctoral student at Michigan State University (MSU) studying Clinical Science and Kinesiology, examines the psychological impacts of returning to play after concussions. Her research is conducted under Professors Jason Moser and Tracey Covassin at MSU. Before joining MSU, Davis was part of the University of North Carolina’s Matthew Gfeller Center, established by current MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz.

Davis highlights three misconceptions about concussions and athletes' psychological readiness to return to sports:

Misconception No. 1: "Everybody responds to concussions in the same way." Concussions manifest differently across individuals with types including cognitive, vestibular, ocular, anxiety/mood, cervical (neck), and migraine-related issues. Physical symptoms can indicate both physical and psychological states affecting readiness for sports.

Covassin's 2003 study noted that women generally report more concussion incidents than men due to factors like hormonal differences or willingness to address symptoms. Psychosocial factors may further explain this disparity as women might be more inclined to acknowledge their symptoms compared to men who may feel societal pressure regarding toughness.

Misconception No. 2: "Everyone is psychologically ready to return to sport when they are physically ready." The field addressing psychological recovery from sport-related injuries is expanding but lacks comprehensive frameworks akin to those for physical healing. Psychological unpreparedness can lead to kinesiophobia—fear of injury—which affects performance.

Misconception No. 3: "A universal protocol can decide when an athlete is psychologically ready." Psychological readiness should be viewed as a process requiring individualized treatment plans involving mental health professionals alongside athletic trainers and physicians.

Ignoring psychological aspects assumes that distress resolves once physical injuries heal; however, this overlooks how trauma patterns develop in the brain which may persist beyond physical recovery stages according to studies such as one from 2006.

Davis emphasizes ongoing research into traumatic brain injuries offers opportunities for enhancing athlete well-being through integrated approaches focusing on both physiological and psychological recovery processes at Michigan State University.