Table 3 Professional athletes’ awareness level of injury consequences

Broglio et al. [34]

Concussion

650 soccer players, 43 coaches, 34 medical staff

Not indicated

16.8

Most soccer players did not feel that the injury was serious enough to report; 72.0% coaches understood that having a single concussion increases the risk of a second injury concussion risk

Cournoyer and Tripp [38]

Concussion

334 high-school soccer players

Not indicated

16.3

Possible concussion consequences correctly identified:

Brain haemorrhage, coma, and death (60.0% to 70.0%);

Early-onset dementia (64.0%);

Early-onset Alzheimer disease (47.0%);

Early-onset Parkinson disease (28.0%).

Improperly identified: increased risk of blindness with age (50.0%) and increased risk of stroke (38.0%)

Kuhl et al. [40]

Concussion

94 equestrian riders

M/F

Not indicated

88.0% agreed or strongly agreed repeated head injuries could result in lasting impairments;

76.0% believed that concussions can increase brain injury;

27.0% believed that work or academics was likely to worsen concussion symptoms;

47.0% disagreed or strongly disagreed that concussion management should be more conservative for a child.

Ma [42]

Orofacial injuries

236 basketball players (77 professionals and 159 semi-professionals)

M

Not indicated

59% ranked the risk of orofacial and dental injury in basketball as medium.

McCrea et al. [43]

Concussion

1532 high-school soccer players

Not indicated

Not indicated

66.4% of the players would not report concussion because they did not think it was serious enough for medical attention.

Williams et al. [60]

Concussion

26 professional soccer players

M

59.6

96.0% indicated playing with a concussion may increase later life risk of “serious stuff” or “cognitive problems”, but 64.0% would continue to play when suffered a concussion.