'Very likely' that brain damage in sportswomen is being underestimated

The threat of sportswomen suffering brain injuries is "very likely" being underestimated, it has been claimed.

Rezon Ltd, a company that has developed a sports headband to help protect the brain, claims women are three times more likely to suffer a concussion than men but that only 1.2 per cent of sport-related concussion studies have included all female participants, with more than 80 per cent of research data coming from males.

Rezon's chief executive Judith McMinn said: "With such a small percentage of the data coming from female players, it is very likely that the brain damage in sportswomen is underestimated and that we will only know the extent of neurodegenerative damage in years to come.

"With increased training regimes and with many women's sports becoming as physical as the men's game, the sad truth is that there will be a higher number of head impacts per player per season.

"With the majority being sub-concussive, undetected head impacts and the brain not getting any recovery time, the implications are serious for players at every level of sport.

"And that so few of them are educating themselves about the risks of brain injury and how to mitigate those risks."

Dr Emma Ross, chief scientific officer of Well-HQ, an organisation specialising in women's health in sport, added: "Taking care of women's bodies in sport is a duty of care.

"Actions now to recognise risk and do something about it will have a lifelong impact on the young women currently playing sport."

Last month, the sports law firm representing more than 225 male rugby union players suffering from neurological impairments were due to serve proceedings against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and Welsh Rugby Union.

Rylands Garth say its claimants "contend that these defendants were negligent in failing to take reasonable action in order to protect players from permanent injury caused by repetitive concussive and sub-concussive blows".

Over 20 players involved in the litigation – including England World Cup winner Steve Thompson and former Wales captain Ryan Jones – have spoken publicly about their brain injuries from playing the sport.