The prevention of cerebral concussions related to sports practices must be strengthened
Press release from the French Academy of Medicine
December 5, 2025
Cerebral concussions (CC) are a major consequence of head injuries in sports, particularly among young people. Considered benign a long time ago, they can lead to neurocognitive, emotional and behavioral disorders that are sometimes a long time-lasting, especially in the case of repeated injuries. Contact sports (rugby, football, hockey, etc.) and combat sports (boxing, other combat sports, etc.) are the most affected, but few sports are completely spared.
Progress, but still insufficient vigilance
Despite awareness campaigns and changes in regulations, early detection and management of concussions remain unequally depending on the sport and the level of practice.
– Many cases remain unreported, and therefore undiagnosed, due to a lack of knowledge or minimisation of the initial symptoms.
– Post-concussion medical follow-up is still too random and of variable quality, particularly among young athletes.
– The risks associated with a premature return to sport are often underestimated.
In football, repeated heading of the ball by children and adolescents is prompting increasing vigilance (2, 3). Several foreign sports federations (United Kingdom, United States, Canada) have already banned or restricted heading in training for children under 12 years. In France, they remain authorised, but discussions are underway to restrict the practice to certain ages and under supervised conditions.
In order to strengthen concussion prevention and athlete safety, the French Academy of Medicine:
– Emphasizes the importance of specific monitoring of young athletes, who are more vulnerable to the effects of repeated head trauma;
– Stresses that, in combat sports, the 10-second rule should be abolished and that a fall to the ground resulting from a blow to the head should be considered equivalent to a knockout and automatically result in stopping the fight;
– Recalls that concussion related to sports practice is a medical emergency, requiring immediate clinical neurosensory and cognitive assessment with an appropriate period of rest;
– Emphasizes the need for medical follow-up after CC, including a baseline neurocognitive test and a very gradual recovery protocol before any return to competition;
– Stresses that all stakeholders are responsible, as prevention relies on the joint commitment of the Ministries of Health, Sport and Education, sports federations, coaches, medical professionals and athletes themselves;
– Recommends systematic training for coaches, referees and educators in recognizing the early signs of CC.
References
- Bigard X., Vital J.M., Les effets néfastes retardés du sport intensif. Partie 1. Les commotions cérébrales dans le sport (The delayed effects of intensive sport. Part 1: Concussions in sport), Bull Acad Natl Med, 2025 ; 209 : 617-29
- McCunn R., Beaudouin F., Stewart K., et al., Heading in football: incidence, biomechanical characteristics, and the association with acute cognitive function – A three-part systematic review, Sports Med, 2021, 51 (10), p. 2147-2163
- Langdon S., Goedhart E., Oosterlaan J., et al., Heading Exposure in Elite Football (Soccer): A Study in Adolescent, Young Adult, and Adult Male and Female. Players Med Sci Sports Exerc 2022, 54(9), 1459-1465.
- Donnelly R.R., Ugbolue U.C., Gao Y., et al., A systematic review and meta-analysis investigating head trauma in boxing. Clin J Sport Med, 2023; 33: 658-674
- May T., Foris L.A., Donnally C.J. et al., Second impact syndrome. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025; PMID: 28846316; Bookshelf ID: NBK448119
- Henrion R. Cabanis E.A., A propos de la commotion cérébrale chez les sportifs (About the concussion in athletes), Communiqué de l’Académie nationale de Médecine, 20 mars 2012
- Tooth, X.C.. Kaux, J.-F. Leclerc S., Épidémiologie des commotions cérébrales dans le sport (Epidemiology of concussions in sports), 2024, Journal de Traumatologie du Sport, 41, 3, 200-204
Bull Acad Natl Med 2025;209:pp-pp. [En ligne] Disponible sur : URL
