In April 2026, Concussion Center member, Dr. Abigail Bretzin, Research Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine, presented her latest concussion research at the 2026 Isokinetic Conference: Football Medicine: Return to Performance with the goal to merge cutting edge research with top level practice.

Dr. Bretzin presented her research examining the incidence, mechanisms, and prevention opportunities for sport-related concussion in women’s soccer using data from the Ivy League-Big Ten Epidemiology of Concussion Study. Preliminary findings suggest that goalkeepers may be at elevated risk for concussion, with approximately 77% of goalkeeper concussions occurring during practice rather than competition. While contact with the ball was the most common injury mechanism, only 22% of ball-related concussions occurred during heading, a pattern that differs from what we find in men’s soccer. These findings highlight the need to consider sex-specific injury mechanisms and prevention strategies when developing concussion risk-reduction programs for soccer athletes.

Publication: Association of Sex With Adolescent Soccer Concussion Incidence and Characteristics