Concussion rate highest in high school.

• Position: Sports Injuries

High school football players sustain greater head accelerations after impact during play than do college-level competitors, which can lead to concussions and serious cervical spine injuries, according to a study published by the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Dallas, Tex. NATA's report urges coaches to teach proper tackling techniques in order to reduce the risk of head and neck injuries.

High schoolers represent the single largest segment of football players in the U.S. and account for the majority of sports-related concussions. In a given year, between four and six percent of high school gridders sustain concussions, corresponding to an estimated 43,200 to 67,200 injuries annually. The NATA study indicates that true injury incidence likely is much higher since some research suggests that more than half of high school athletes who get concussions are suspected of not reporting their injuries.

The report surmises that physical maturation and the associated neck strength and endurance of high school athletes might explain the discrepancy with their collegiate counterparts. On average, collegians weigh 33 pounds more than high school athletes, but they stand only 1.2 inches taller, suggesting they have a more developed musculature system that is better able to control head motion after impact.

"The number of injuries occurring during high school football, where the disparity in medical coverage is the greatest, drives the need for a better understanding of...