"Sub-concussive" Is a Dangerous Misnomer: Refining Terminology for Head Impacts and Traumatic Brain Injuries 9645

Concussion, a form of traumatic brain injury (TBI), is traditionally associated with evident signs and symptoms resulting from significant biomechanical forces. However, recent research challenges this perspective by highlighting impacts and injuries that do not meet conventional diagnostic criteria but may still involve substantial brain function alterations. The term "sub-concussive" has been used to describe such phenomena, suggesting they are lesser in severity than concussions. Yet, evidence indicates that many of these impacts involve greater head acceleration than those officially classified as concussions and can lead to neurological injuries detectable through biomarkers and neuroimaging, suggesting potential long-term sequelae. This has prompted a call to replace "sub-concussive" with more accurate terms: "non-concussive" for impacts and "subclinical TBI" for injuries. This presentation aims to review the literature supporting these guidelines, to improve the understanding and communication about the spectrum of brain injuries related to sports and other activities.