At a prevalence of nearly 90%, headache is the most common symptom that children and teenagers report following sports-related concussions. Yet, there is little research on the characteristics of these headaches and their associated symptoms. These headaches are typically migraine attacks or probable migraine, according to a study presented at the American Headache Society conference in June.

In a study of 25 young athletes between the ages of 12-19, researchers found that 100% had experienced headache in the wake of the concussion. For 80% of participants, the headache worsened throughout the day, particularly with physical or cognitive activity. Only 28% had a history of headache prior to the concussion.

The pain of these post-concussive headaches averaged 6.3 out of 10 on a 10-point pain scale and the pain worsened with physical or cognitive activity. Most participants described the pain as throbbing or pounding. Other migraine symptoms they experienced include:

• Neurocognitive symptoms (like verbal processing ability, processing speed, and reaction time): 72%
• Vestibular symptoms (like vertigo, dizziness, and clumsiness): 72%
• Visual changes (like blurring, floaters, flashing lights): 64%
• Photophobia: 52%
• Nausea: 48%
• Phonophobia: 40%
• Numbness: 16%
• Sleep disturbances: 12%
• Disturbance in speech (like word finding): 8%
• Vomiting: 8%
• Allodynia: 4%

Concussions occurred while athletes were participating in football, soccer, basketball, hockey, softball, lacrosse, or gymnastics. Migraine attacks followed concussions even in athletes who were held out from sports for a longer period of time.

This research was from a snapshot in time of the young athletes. Further research is needed to assess the long-term prognosis of migraine attacks following concussions to see how long the attacks persist and which treatments are most effective for them.

REFERENCES

Cohen, D., & Conidi, F. (2015, June). Headache Characterization and Phenotype in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients with Sports Related Concussion. Presented at the 57th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society, Washington, D.C. Abstract retrieved from: http://www.americanheadachesociety.org/assets/1/7/Cohen_89961.pdf.