What Happens to Neck Muscles After a Concussion?

A recent study looked at how concussions affect the muscles in the neck. The focus was on two things: when athletes can safely go back to playing sports and if they are more likely to get hurt afterward. The study involved 30 teens, mostly girls, around 16 years old. They had MRIs of their neck muscles right after a concussion. Then, they had another MRI after they were cleared to play sports again. For a year, they also reported any injuries they had. The results were surprising. The amount of fat in the neck muscles and the size of these muscles didn't seem to affect when the teens could go back to playing sports. Also, these muscle factors didn't predict if they would get hurt later. This study suggests that neck muscles might not change much after a concussion. Or maybe the MRIs were done too soon to see any changes. It's important to note that this was a small study, so more research is needed.