Table 2

Players who sustained a sprain, strain or fracture requiring lost playing time during follow-up by group, National Football League preseason and regular season, 2015–2021

End of season follow-up60-day follow-up30-day follow-upTotal
Injury sustainedInjury not sustainedInjury sustainedInjury not sustainedInjury sustainedInjury not sustained
Outcome: subsequent time-loss* lower extremity sprain, strain or fracture
 Concussion160 (21%)606 (79%)136 (18%)630 (82%)91 (12%)675 (88%)766
 Comparison Group 1: other non-concussed players from the same game11 124 (22%)40 448 (78%)9599 (19%)41 973 (81%)6797 (13%)44 775 (87%)51 572
 Comparison Group 2: time-loss upper extremity injury†207 (26%)582 (74%)177 (22%)612 (78%)105 (13%)684 (87%)789
Outcome: subsequent time-loss* sprain, strain or fracture
 Concussion268 (35%)498 (65%)239 (31%)527 (69%)161 (21%)605 (79%)766
 Comparison Group 1: other non-concussed players from the same game18 197 (35%)33 375 (65%)16 074 (31%)35 498 (69%)11 766 (23%)39 806 (77%)51 572
 Comparison Group 2: time-loss upper extremity injury†311 (39%)478 (61%)267 (34%)522 (66%)165 (21%)624 (79%)789
  • *A ‘time-loss injury’ was defined as an injury that resulted in the player being restricted or limited from their normal level of participation.

  • †Upper extremity injury includes time-loss injuries to the arm, clavicle, elbow, fingers, forearm, hand, shoulder or wrist that resulted in a sprain, strain or fracture.