Are Girls or Boys More Likely to Get Concussions? The Surprising Truth
Gender and Concussion Risk: What the Research Really Says
So here's the deal—most people assume boys get more concussions. Why? Probably because they play more contact sports like football, hockey, or wrestling. And yeah, statistically, boys do report a higher total number of concussions.
But wait. That’s not the full picture.
When comparing boys and girls playing the same sports, studies consistently show that girls are actually more likely to sustain concussions. Yep, kind of unexpected, right?
The numbers don’t lie
In sports like soccer, basketball, and lacrosse—where both genders compete under similar conditions—girls have higher rates of concussion. For example, a study in The American Journal of Sports Medicine found:
High school girls’ soccer: twice the concussion rate compared to boys
Girls’ basketball: significantly higher concussion rates per athlete exposure
Girls' lacrosse (even though it's non-contact): still more concussions than boys’
Crazy? A little. But it gets more interesting.
Why Are Girls More Prone to Concussions?
1. Physical differences (no, this isn't sexist—it's science)
One theory is neck strength. On average, girls have less neck strength and muscle mass than boys. So when the head gets hit or jolted, there's less resistance, more whip, and greater brain movement inside the skull.
That doesn't mean girls are “weaker”—it’s just anatomy doing its thing.
2. Hormones might play a role
Some researchers think hormonal differences, especially estrogen and progesterone, could influence how the brain responds to trauma—or recovers from it. There’s no hard consensus here yet, but it’s being studied more and more.
3. Reporting habits differ
Let’s be honest: boys are more likely to “shake it off.” Girls tend to report symptoms more often—and earlier. That doesn’t mean boys don’t get concussions. They might just be underreporting them, which skews the data a bit.
Still, even accounting for that, girls seem to experience more symptoms, and for longer durations.
How Do Concussions Affect Girls vs. Boys?
Longer recovery time
Studies show girls often take longer to recover from concussions—sometimes days or even weeks longer than boys. Symptoms like headaches, nausea, and cognitive fog tend to stick around more.
A friend of mine—varsity soccer player, total beast—had to sit out almost two months after a mid-air collision. Her teammate (a guy from the boys’ team) had a similar impact and was back in two weeks. Not fair, but that’s how it went.
Increased emotional impact
Some data suggests girls experience higher emotional distress post-concussion. That includes anxiety, irritability, and even depressive symptoms. Could be brain chemistry, could be social factors—or both.
So... Who’s Really at Risk?
Honestly? Everyone who plays sports, period. But if we’re comparing head-to-head (pun intended), girls seem more vulnerable to concussions in equivalent settings.
That doesn’t mean they should stop playing sports (not at all). It just means coaches, parents, and players need to be more aware, especially in girls’ athletics.
Final thoughts: Are girls or boys more likely to get concussions?
In raw numbers? Boys, because they play more high-risk sports.
But in equal comparison sports? Girls, hands down.
So the next time someone shrugs off a girl’s head injury as “less serious,” maybe share some stats. Because concussions don’t discriminate—but they do hit some harder than others.
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Is 172 cm good for a man?
Yes it is. Average height of male in India is 166.3 cm (i.e. 5 ft 5.5 inches) while for female it is 152.6 cm (i.e. 5 ft) approximately. So, as far as your question is concerned, aforesaid height is above average in both cases.
Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?
The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.
Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?
How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).
How tall is a average 15 year old?
Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years
| Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 14 Years | 112.0 lb. (50.8 kg) | 64.5" (163.8 cm) |
| 15 Years | 123.5 lb. (56.02 kg) | 67.0" (170.1 cm) |
| 16 Years | 134.0 lb. (60.78 kg) | 68.3" (173.4 cm) |
| 17 Years | 142.0 lb. (64.41 kg) | 69.0" (175.2 cm) |
How to get taller at 18?
Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.
Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?
Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).
Can you grow between 16 and 18?
Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.
Can you grow 1 cm after 17?
Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.