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Toronto, April 30, 2025 – A new study from York University’s Faculty of Health brings reassuring news for parents concerned about the long-term effects of concussions on their children’s ability to play sports. Contrary to common fears, the research finds that a child’s age and prior sports experience are stronger predictors of their cognitive-motor performance than their history of concussions.
The decade-long study, published in the journal Concussion, involved 223 participants aged 9 to 53, most of whom were children and youth engaged in sports such as hockey, soccer, football, and basketball. Researchers assessed participants’ abilities in both standard and complex eye-hand coordination tasks. Surprisingly, the number of previous concussions did not emerge as the primary factor influencing performance.
“In previous work, we’ve already shown that kids who have any number of concussions perform worse than children who’ve never had a concussion, but we did notice there was this subgroup of kids who seemed to perform motor skills just fine within weeks of getting a concussion,” explained Professor Lauren Sergio, a senior author of the study and York Research Chair in Brain Health and Gender in Action. “What we found here suggests that previous sports experience may offer some neuroprotective benefits against the effects of concussion.”
Lead author and Ph.D. candidate Nicole Smeha added, “Our hypothesis was that a higher number of concussions would be the largest factor for cognitive-motor integration, but after analyzing the results we realized there were likely stronger factors at play.”
The findings indicate that children with more sports experience and older age demonstrated better cognitive-motor integration, regardless of their concussion history. The study also found that sex was not a significant factor in performance outcomes.
Concussions remain a serious health issue, particularly for youth and adolescents under 18, as they can lead to cognitive and motor deficits such as slower processing speed and increased reaction times. However, the research underscores the importance of considering multiple factors-such as age and experience-when deciding if and when a child should return to sports after a concussion.
“If your child has had a second concussion and they’re new to sports, they might be more vulnerable to getting hurt again, because they’re not going to be able to perform at the same level,” said Professor Sergio. “Whereas if your kid is playing at a higher level, yes, they’ve still suffered a brain injury, but the neural network controlling movement may be more resilient.”
The study’s results may help inform safer return-to-play guidelines and provide peace of mind for families navigating the complexities of youth sports after concussion.
Disclaimer:
This article summarizes findings from a scientific study and is provided for informational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a concussion or other health concerns.
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