尚未有任何针对事故或损伤所致脑震荡的预防策略。戴头盔等基本措施有助于最大程度降低严重骨折的可能性,并对亚振荡性打击有保护作用,但这些措施均不能预防脑震荡。[24]Knapik JJ, Marshall SW, Lee RB, et al. Mouthguards in sport activities: history, physical properties and injury prevention effectiveness. Sports Med. 2007;37:117-144.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17241103?tool=bestpractice.com在运动中监测赛中疲乏是降低脑震荡损伤几率的实用方法,但无法防止损伤的发生。[25]Benson BW, Hamilton GM, Meeuwisse WH, et al. Is protective equipment useful in preventing concussion? A systematic review of the literature. Br J Sports Med. 2009;43(suppl 1):i56-i67.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19433427?tool=bestpractice.com[26]Stevens ST, Lassonde M, de Beaumont L, et al. In-game fatigue influences concussions in national hockey league players. Res Sports Med. 2008;16:68-74.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18373290?tool=bestpractice.com
尽管防护意识增强,并变更了规则和设备,但脑震荡依然是美式橄榄球中的一个问题。橄榄球相关的脑震荡年发生率(包括娱乐性、中学、大学及职业水平)表明,橄榄球运动员的脑震荡年发病率估计为 4%~20%,[11]Bailes JE, Cantu RC. Head injury in athletes. Neurosurgery. 2001;48:26-45; discussion 45-46.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11152359?tool=bestpractice.com且在同一赛季中,他们再次发生脑震荡的可能性要高三倍。[12]Guskiewicz KM, Weaver NL, Padua DA, et al. Epidemiology of concussion in collegiate and high school football players. Am J Sports Med. 2000;28:643-650.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11032218?tool=bestpractice.com一项研究发现,70.4% 的橄榄球运动员和 62.7% 的足球运动员报告在上一年经历了脑震荡症状,但仅 23.4% 有脑震荡症状的橄榄球运动员意识到其患有脑震荡。[13]Delaney JS, Lacroix VJ, Leclerc S, et al. Concussions among university football and soccer players. Clin J Sport Med. 2002;12:331-338.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12466687?tool=bestpractice.com为减少脑震荡人数,美国全国橄榄球联赛 (NFL) 等职业体育联盟已进行了数项规则的修改,包括头盔-头盔接触、只可碰撞肩部及以下位置,以及比赛者头盔掉下后应立即停止比赛。National Football League (NFL): rule book尽管这些规则更改和其他类似更改可能降低脑震荡发病率,但是它们均不能防止损伤。[27]Johnson LS. Return to play guidelines cannot solve the football-related concussion problem. J Sch Health. 2012;82:180-185.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22385091?tool=bestpractice.com
关于其他运动的统计则表明,中学年龄的冰球运动员年发病率与橄榄球年发病率接近(如不高于的话)。[28]Marar M, McIlvain NM, Fields SK, et al. Epidemiology of concussions among United States high school athletes in 20 sports. Am J Sports Med. 2012;40:747-755.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22287642?tool=bestpractice.com实际上,一些监管机构已大幅度更改规则以降低儿童和青少年的发病率。同样,美国国家冰球联盟也已推行数条规则以降低脑震荡损伤。一份详细说明 1997 年至 2004 年发病率的研究指出,运动员每运动 1000 小时,脑震荡发生率为 1.8 次。[29]Benson BW, Meeuwisse WH, Rizos J, et al. A prospective study of concussions among National Hockey League players during regular season games: the NHL-NHLPA Concussion Program. CMAJ. 2011;183:905-911.http://www.cmaj.ca/content/183/8/905.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21502355?tool=bestpractice.com英式橄榄球和澳式橄榄球等其他运动中脑震荡的发病率也较高。根据该研究,最低为 0.5%,最高则为 15%,[30]Hrysomallis C. Injury incidence, risk factors and prevention in Australian rules football. Sports Med. 2013;43:339-354.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23529288?tool=bestpractice.com变异度与美式橄榄球相似。其他研究显示,脑震荡是常见损伤,根据一项外伤研究报告,英式橄榄球的外伤发生率高达 48%。[31]Baker JF, Devitt BM, Green J, et al. Concussion among under 20 rugby union players in Ireland: incidence, attitudes and knowledge. Ir J Med Sci. 2013;182:121-125.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22898834?tool=bestpractice.com一份职业英式橄榄球研究报告了较高的发病率,仅比赛期间,运动员每运动 1000 小时,就会受伤 11.10 次。[32]McLellan TL, McKinlay A. Does the way concussion is portrayed affect public awareness of appropriate concussion management: the case of rugby league. Br J Sports Med. 2011;45:993-996.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21540191?tool=bestpractice.com自从这些数据发布以来,国际橄榄球协会已实施脑震荡治疗新指南。迄今为止,尚无新数据来评估这些措施的效果。