A new survey conducted by the Barrow Neurological Institute shows an increasing awareness among respondents of the dangers of contact sports.
According to the Barrow Institute, a survey of 477 teens and 469 adults living in Arizona shows a growing fear of concussion.
The study defined football, soccer and basketball as contact sports.
More than a third of the teens surveyed said they were avoiding contact sports due to fears of concussions.
Dr. Javier Cardenas, director of the Concussion and Brain Injury Center at Barrow Neurological Institute, said the study found a growing number of adults are concerned as well.
“When asked, 'As a parent, would you let your child play a contact sport?' only 65% this year said 'yes.' Compare that with two years ago, in which 82% said 'yes,'” Cardenas said.
Cardenas said the numbers show awareness is growing among school sports, but there is a huge gap in club sports, "in both the education, the communication and in the management of concussion. So we see that as an opportunity for providing education.”
He said more than a third of the teens surveyed reported sustaining a concussion in their sport.
