Concussions and female athletes

(WTNH) - Female athletes appear to be at a high risk for whiplash-type concussions.

Doctors are finding females, along with younger athletes, need about an extra week to recover compared to older or male athletes.

For women, studies are bringing into focus a rising trend, and not just with contact sports either.

"There's kind of that theory out there that women don't have as strong a neck muscular as men do, so that may be leading to why they're having more concussion per year," Quinnipiac University trainer Meghan McCaffery said.

The worst is women's ice hockey. It's also sport that doesn't allow checking.

"The boys are taught how to give and receive a hit," Quinnipiac women's hockey coach Rich Seely said. "With the no contact for women, a lot of time that is forgotten and I don't think we do a good job of preparing them for that."