Concussion Symptoms Scale and the Association with Temperature, Equipment, and Play Duration in Non-Concussed Football Players

Authors

• Rachel Matthews, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
• Ankur Verma, Department of Orthopaedics, University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
• Derek Calvert, Institute for the Health & Performance of Champions, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, USA.
• Nathan P. Lemoine, LSU Athletics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, USA.
• Jack Marucci, Institute for the Health & Performance of Champions, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, USA.
• Stephen Etheredge, LSU Athletics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, USA.
• Robert Zura, LSU Health Sciences Center- New OrleansFollow
• Guillaume Spielmann, Institute for the Health & Performance of Champions, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, USA.
• Neil M. Johannsen, Institute for the Health & Performance of Champions, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, USA.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-31-2026

Publication Title

Sports (Basel, Switzerland)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Symptom scales are routinely used in sport during concussion screening and return-to-play. Limited research has explored the presence of concussion symptoms in the absence of a diagnosed concussion. This study analyzed concussion symptom scores in concussed vs. non-concussed football players after football activities and evaluated the effect of field of play variables. METHODS: NCAA Division I football players with (n = 9) and without (n = 30) diagnosed concussion completed concussion symptom scales (C3 Logix) following practice for 1 week. Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), play duration, equipment, and location (inside/outside) were recorded. Mixed models analyzed the effect of day, WBGT, equipment, location, and play duration on concussion-like symptoms in non-concussed players and determined the time course of symptom relief in concussed players. RESULTS: Fatigue or low energy (27.6%), neck pain (16.8%), feeling slowed down (14.8%), and headache (12.8%) were most reported. In non-concussed players, total symptoms scores were higher early in the week (Monday/Tuesday) and decreased throughout the week (p < 0.01). No effect of play duration (p = 0.49), WBGT (p = 0.12), equipment (p = 0.40), or location (p = 0.83) was found. Symptom scores were greater in the concussed vs. non-concussed groups on days 1-3. CONCLUSIONS: Football players report concussion-like symptoms in the absence of a concussion diagnosis, particularly following the first few practices after a game.

PubMed ID

42043065

Volume

14

Issue

4

Publisher

MDPI

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Matthews, Rachel; Verma, Ankur; Calvert, Derek; Lemoine, Nathan P.; Marucci, Jack; Etheredge, Stephen; Zura, Robert; Spielmann, Guillaume; and Johannsen, Neil M., "Concussion Symptoms Scale and the Association with Temperature, Equipment, and Play Duration in Non-Concussed Football Players" (2026). School of Medicine Faculty Publications. 4641.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/som_facpubs/4641
10.3390/sports14040133