TL;DR – Sports Concussions in Female Athletes
Sports concussions in female athletes are often underdiagnosed, especially in soccer, cheerleading, and horseback riding. Many girls experience dizziness, vertigo, brain fog, headaches, and balance problems without a clear head impact or abnormal brain imaging. A proper vestibular evaluation can identify hidden concussions and guide effective, personalized treatment for full recovery.
In this blog, I will share the three most dangerous women’s sports based on my clinical experience specializing in dizziness and vertigo for 20 years now.
Why Sports Concussions Affect Girls and Women Differently Than Boys
Many of us have heard about American football 🏈 causing sports concussions for boys and men. I’ve taken care of men with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and it can be absolutely brutal.
Many football leagues have now implemented evidence-based concussion protocols and rule changes to minimize high-speed impacts, so you could say that football has become somewhat safer recently.
The other men’s sports we commonly think of causing concussions are ice hockey, rugby, and lacrosse.
Leagues that have adopted rules to reduce body checking in adolescent boys have seen reduced rates of concussions. Coaches and teams that don’t allow body checking during practice have also taken a positive step towards protecting the developing brains of their players.
However, concussions among female athletes continue to be a huge, seemingly hidden epidemic.
Some of my observations may surprise you!
⚽️ Soccer and Undiagnosed Concussions in Female Athletes
Most of the world calls this sport “football.” I’m American, so we will call it soccer in this blog.
I’ve now seen the highest rate of undiagnosed concussions in young women who play soccer. Of course, it makes sense if they ran smack into a goalpost or had an accidental collision with another player on the field.
But surprisingly, I’m finding signs of concussion in female soccer players with dizziness or vertigo who report NEVER colliding with another player or goal post.
The signs of concussion on their exams are unmistakable, which leaves them confused as to how that is possible.
How Repeated Heading Can Cause Dizziness and Vertigo Without a Collision
My theory is that the small microtraumas of heading the ball repeatedly for years accumulated to add up to a concussion patient presentation. It’s also possible that they have more inflammation in their brain due to heading the ball, so it may not be structural but chemical.
If you are a young female soccer player suffering from dizziness or vertigo, you may have an undiagnosed concussion. This can be easily missed because brain MRI and CT scan usually look normal in these cases.
📣 Cheerleading Stunts and Concussion Risk in Young Girls
I never realized how much athleticism cheerleading required until I’ve had the privilege to work with very talented cheerleaders suffering with dizziness or vertigo.
In my experience, I’ve found that cheerleading stunts can be very dangerous and cause concussions.
When a Cheerleading Fall Leads to Lingering Dizziness or Vertigo
I’ve worked with young girls who were “flyers,” which are the girls being lifted up or thrown up into the air during a cheerleading stunt.
I’ve also worked with girls who are supposed to support or catch the flyers during a stunt, called the “base.”
Accidents happen sometimes during cheerleading practice and even during games with everyone watching. If a cheerleading stunt goes wrong, the flyer or the base can hit their head on the ground hard.
For example, the flyer may get dropped during a stunt by accident. The flyer’s role requires trusting the base, so this can be very disorienting and traumatic if a young girl ends up on the ground.
The base can lose her balance and fall backwards to hit the back of her head as she is trying to support the flyer.
Many cheerleaders with dizziness can recall an “incident” that occurred during a stunt gone wrong, but they often still present for my care without a correct diagnosis.
Mishaps like this during a cheerleading stunt make cheerleading one of the top 3 most dangerous sports for girls, from my perspective.
🏇 Horseback Riding and Repeated Concussions in Women
Horseback riding is another dangerous women’s sport. I’ve noticed that horseback riding causes a lot of concussions in female athletes, both young and older.
In fact, I would venture to say that most of my patients with many years of experience horseback riding have experienced at least one concussion at some point.
Many of my patients report multiple concussions over time from getting thrown or falling off horses over the years.
The difference is that they often know it!
Concussions from horseback riding are frequently identified before I even meet the patient. Whereas, young women with a concussion from soccer or cheerleading are often unaware.
What Female Athletes Should Do If They Have Dizziness or Vertigo After Sports
Talk to your doctor if you are a female athlete suffering with dizziness, vertigo, brain fog, headaches, mood swings, and difficulty sleeping.
When to See a Vestibular Specialist for a Possible Undiagnosed Concussion
You may have signs of a concussion that don’t show up with traditional medical care or standardized testing.
Therefore, even if your doctor tells you that you will be fine or it’s all from anxiety, you can consult a vestibular health care professional for an exam to determine the root cause of your discomfort.
I’ve had the privilege to be part of many cases where the discovery of an undiagnosed concussion in a female athlete was the catalyst for a full recovery!
The vertigo treatment plan has to be personal and target the root cause. I believe that patients with a concussion deserve the right care plan, so they can get their life back.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sports Concussions in Female Athletes
Q: Why are sports concussions in female athletes often missed?
Female athletes can experience concussions without a clear head impact. Symptoms like dizziness, vertigo, brain fog, and balance problems may be dismissed when brain imaging appears normal. Even if there is a known head impact, brain imaging can still appear normal.
Q: Which women’s sports have the highest concussion risk?
In my clinical experience, soccer, cheerleading, and horseback riding are among the most dangerous women’s sports for concussion-related dizziness and vertigo.
Q: Can dizziness and vertigo be signs of a concussion?
Yes. Dizziness and vertigo are common vestibular symptoms of concussion, especially in female athletes. Other common symptoms of concussion include headaches, brain fog, neck pain, emotional lability, and sleep disruption.
Q: When should a female athlete see a vestibular specialist?
If symptoms persist after sports activity or are dismissed as anxiety, a vestibular evaluation can identify an underlying concussion and guide proper treatment.
Disclaimer
This blog is provided for informational and educational purposes only. The content and any comments by Dr. Kim Bell, DPT are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The details of any case mentioned in this post represent a typical patient that Dr. Bell might see and do not describe the circumstances of a specific individual.
