scholarly journals Effect of Head Impact Exposures on Changes in Cognitive Testing

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 232596711876103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Diakogeorgiou ◽  
Theresa L. Miyashita

Background: Gaining a better understanding of head impact exposures may lead to better comprehension of the possible effects of repeated impact exposures not associated with clinical concussion. Purpose: To assess the correlation between head impacts and any differences associated with cognitive testing measurements pre- and postseason. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 34 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men’s lacrosse players wore lacrosse helmets instrumented with an accelerometer during the 2014 competitive season and were tested pre- and postseason with the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT 3) and Concussion Vital Signs (CVS) computer-based neurocognitive tests. The number of head impacts >20 g and results from the 2 cognitive tests were analyzed for differences and correlation. Results: There was no significant difference between pre- and postseason SCAT 3 scores, although a significant correlation between pre- and postseason cognitive scores on the SCAT 3 and total number of impacts sustained was noted ( r = –0.362, P = .035). Statistically significant improvements on half of the CVS testing components included visual reaction time ( P = .037, d = 0.37), reaction time ( P = .001, d = 0.65), and simple reaction time ( P = .043, d = 0.37), but no correlation with head impacts was noted. Conclusion: This study did not find declines in SCAT 3 or CVS scores over the course of a season among athletes who sustained multiple head impacts but no clinical concussion. Thus, it could not be determined whether there was no cognitive decline among these athletes or whether there may have been subtle declines that could not be measured by the SCAT 3 or CVS.

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 667-667
Author(s):  
Sohoni R ◽  
Gorres K ◽  
Sibol M ◽  
Yousif M ◽  
LoGalbo A

Abstract Objective SWAY is a mobile software system using an accelerometer designed to measure postural sway and reaction time in the context of concussion. This study examined the efficacy of SWAY in detecting changes in balance and reaction time before and after concussion. Methods College athletes (N = 30, 10 females) underwent baseline, post-trauma, and follow-up evaluations following a concussion including SWAY, mBESS, Sports Concussion Assessment Tool 5th Edition (SCAT-5), and Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT). Results Paired-samples t-tests revealed a decline in SWAY balance from baseline (M = 82.65, SD = 14.48) to post-trauma (M = 74.61, SD = 17.41), t(29) = 2.99, p = 0.006, but no significant difference was observed in reaction time (M = 5.07, SD = 13.61), t(29) = 2.04, p = 0.050. Meanwhile, balance improved at follow-up (M = 78.93, SD = 15.32), and was no longer discrepant from baseline (M = 81.97, SD = 14.51), t(21) = 1.03, p = 0.316. Similarly, there was a significant decline in mBESS scores from baseline (M = 2.88, SD = 3.62) to post-trauma (M = 5.68, SD = 5.32), t(24) = −3.51, p = 0.002, followed by a return to baseline at follow up (M = 4.22, SD = 4.95), t(22) = −1.60, p = 0.124. Conclusions Although challenges were apparent in obtaining an optimal baseline, current results appear to support the clinical utility of SWAY for assessing balance in the context of concussion evaluations. Further research appears warranted to support SWAY as a method of diagnosing concussion and monitoring return to baseline.


2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (12) ◽  
pp. 1247-1253 ◽  
Author(s):  
James R. Clugston ◽  
Zachary M. Houck ◽  
Breton M. Asken ◽  
Jonathan K. Boone ◽  
Anthony P. Kontos ◽  
...  

Context Comprehensive assessments are recommended to evaluate sport-related concussion (SRC). The degree to which the King-Devick (KD) test adds novel information to an SRC evaluation is unknown. Objective To describe relationships at baseline among the KD and other SRC assessments and explore whether the KD provides unique information to a multimodal baseline concussion assessment. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Five National Collegiate Athletic Association institutions participating in the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium. Patients or Other Participants National Collegiate Athletic Association student-athletes (N = 2258, age = 20 ± 1.5 years, 53.0% male, 68.9% white) in 11 men's and 13 women's sports. Main Outcome Measure(s) Participants completed baseline assessments on the KD and (1) the Symptom Inventory of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool–3rd edition, (2) the Brief Symptom Inventory-18, (3) the Balance Error Scoring System, (4) the Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC), (5) the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) test battery, and (6) the Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening tool during their first year in CARE. Correlation coefficients between the KD and the 6 other concussion assessments in isolation were determined. Assessments with ρ magnitude >0.1 were included in a multivariate linear regression analysis to evaluate their relative association with the KD. Results Scores for SAC concentration, ImPACT visual motor speed, and ImPACT reaction time were correlated with the KD (ρ = −0.216, −0.276, and 0.164, respectively) and were thus included in the regression model, which explained 16.8% of the variance in baseline KD time (P < .001, Cohen f2 = 0.20). Better SAC concentration score (β = −.174, P < .001), ImPACT visual motor speed (β = −.205, P < .001), and ImPACT reaction time (β = .056, P = .020) were associated with faster baseline KD performance, but the effect sizes were small. Conclusions Better performance on cognitive measures involving concentration, visual motor speed, and reaction time was weakly associated with better baseline KD performance. Symptoms, psychological distress, balance, and vestibular-oculomotor provocation were unrelated to KD performance at baseline. The findings indicate limited overlap at baseline among the CARE SRC assessments and the KD.


2014 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 919-922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Rowson ◽  
Stefan M. Duma ◽  
Richard M. Greenwald ◽  
Jonathan G. Beckwith ◽  
Jeffrey J. Chu ◽  
...  

Of all sports, football accounts for the highest incidence of concussion in the US due to the large number of athletes participating and the nature of the sport. While there is general agreement that concussion incidence can be reduced through rule changes and teaching proper tackling technique, there remains debate as to whether helmet design may also reduce the incidence of concussion. A retrospective analysis was performed of head impact data collected from 1833 collegiate football players who were instrumented with helmet-mounted accelerometer arrays for games and practices. Data were collected between 2005 and 2010 from 8 collegiate football teams: Virginia Tech, University of North Carolina, University of Oklahoma, Dartmouth College, Brown University, University of Minnesota, Indiana University, and University of Illinois. Concussion rates were compared between players wearing Riddell VSR4 and Riddell Revolution helmets while controlling for the head impact exposure of each player. A total of 1,281,444 head impacts were recorded, from which 64 concussions were diagnosed. The relative risk of sustaining a concussion in a Revolution helmet compared with a VSR4 helmet was 46.1% (95% CI 28.1%–75.8%). When controlling for each player's exposure to head impact, a significant difference was found between concussion rates for players in VSR4 and Revolution helmets (χ2 = 4.68, p = 0.0305). This study illustrates that differences in the ability to reduce concussion risk exist between helmet models in football. Although helmet design may never prevent all concussions from occurring in football, evidence illustrates that it can reduce the incidence of this injury.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Ting Yuan ◽  
Jun Xiong ◽  
Jun Yang ◽  
Xue Wang ◽  
Yunfeng Jiang ◽  
...  

Background. Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a noninfectious inflammatory disease caused by allergic individuals exposed to allergens. Western medicine therapy for treating AR causes obvious adverse events, while thunder fire moxibustion (TFM) is known as a safe and effective treatment for AR. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of TFM for treating AR. Methods. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and CBM from inception to April 5, 2020, were searched without any language restriction. Reviewers identified studies, extracted data, and assessed the quality, independently. The primary outcomes were the total effective rate and the TNSS. The secondary outcomes included TNNSS, RQLQ, VAS, serum IgE, IgA, or IgG level, and adverse events. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were collected; methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool (RoB), and the level of evidence was rated using the GRADE approach. Meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan5.3.0 software. Results. A total of 18 RCTs were included, including 1600 patients. The results of this meta-analysis showed a statistically significant effect in a total effective rate of T = TFM (RR = 1.07; 95% CI [1.03, 1.12]; P=0.45; I2 = 0%) and T = TFM + other treatments (RR = 1.18; 95% CI [1.11, 1.25]; P=0.03; I2 = 53%). In addition, TFM intervention also showed significant difference in total symptom score (T = TFM + other treatments) (MD = −1.42; 95% CI [−1.55, −1.29]; P=0.03; I2 = 60%) in patients with AR. Conclusion. Existing evidence shows that TFM is safe and effective for AR. Due to the universal low quality of the eligible trials and low evidence level, we should draw our conclusions with caution. Therefore, clinical researchers should carry out more large-sample, multicentre, high-quality randomized controlled clinical trials in the future to verify the clinical efficacy of TFM in treating AR.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 232596711983558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shane V. Caswell ◽  
Patricia Kelshaw ◽  
Andrew E. Lincoln ◽  
Lisa Hepburn ◽  
Reginald Dunn ◽  
...  

Background: The rate of concussions in boys’ lacrosse is reported to be the third highest among high school sports in the United States, but no studies have described game-related impacts among boys’ lacrosse players. Purpose: To characterize verified game-related impacts, both overall and those directly to the head, in boys’ varsity high school lacrosse. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 77 male participants (mean age, 16.6 ± 1.2 years; mean height, 1.77 ± 0.05 m; mean weight, 73.4 ± 12.2 kg) were instrumented with sensors and were videotaped during 39 games. All verified game-related impacts ≥20 g were summarized in terms of frequency, peak linear acceleration (PLA), and peak rotational velocity (PRV). Descriptive statistics and impact rates per player-game (PG) with corresponding 95% CIs were calculated. Results: Overall, 1100 verified game-related impacts were recorded (PLA: median, 33.5 g [interquartile range (IQR), 25.7-51.2]; PRV: median, 1135.5 deg/s [IQR, 790.0-1613.8]) during 795 PGs. The rate for all verified game-related impacts was 1.38 impacts per PG (95% CI, 1.30-1.47). Of these, 680 (61.8%) impacts (PLA: median, 35.9 g [IQR, 26.7-55.5]; PRV: 1170.5 deg/s [IQR, 803.2-1672.8]) were directly to the head (impact rate, 0.86 impacts/PG [95% CI, 0.79-0.92]). Overall, midfielders (n = 514; 46.7%) sustained the most impacts, followed by attackers (n = 332; 30.2%), defenders (n = 233; 21.2%), and goalies (n = 21; 1.9%). The most common mechanisms for overall impacts and direct head impacts were contact with player (overall: n = 706 [64.2%]; head: n = 397 [58.4%]) and stick (overall: n = 303 [27.5%]; head: n = 239 [35.1%]), followed by ground (overall: n = 73 [6.6%]; head: n = 26 [3.8%]) and ball (overall: n = 15 [1.4%]; head: n = 15 [2.2%]). Direct head impacts were associated with a helmet-to-helmet collision 31.2% of the time, and they were frequently (53.7%) sustained by the players delivering the impact. Nearly half (48.8%) of players delivering contact used their helmets to initiate contact that resulted in a helmet-to-helmet impact. Players receiving a head impact from player contact were most often unprepared (75.9%) for the collision. Conclusion: The helmet is commonly used to initiate contact in boys’ high school lacrosse, often targeting defenseless opponents. Interventions to reduce head impacts should address rules and coaching messages to discourage intentional use of the helmet and encourage protection of defenseless opponents.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 1476-1484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin L. Brett ◽  
Katherine Breedlove ◽  
Thomas W. McAllister ◽  
Steven P. Broglio ◽  
Michael A. McCrea ◽  
...  

Background: Organizations recommend that athletes should be asymptomatic or symptom-limited before initiating a graduated return-to-play (GRTP) protocol after sports-related concussion, although asymptomatic or symptom-limited is not well-defined. Hypotheses: (1) There will be a range (ie, beyond zero as indicator of “symptom-free”) in symptom severity endorsement when athletes are deemed ready to initiate a GRTP protocol. (2) Baseline symptom severity scores and demographic/preinjury medical history factors influence symptom severity scores at the commencement of the GRTP protocol. (3) Greater symptom severity scores at GRTP protocol initiation will result in longer protocol duration. (4) Symptom severity scores will not differ between those who did and did not sustain a repeat injury within 90 days of their initial injury. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Across 30 universities, athletes (N = 1531) completed assessments at baseline and before beginning the GRTP protocol, as determined by local medical staff. Symptom severity scores were recorded with the symptom checklist of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool–3rd Edition. Nonparametric comparisons were used to examine the effect of medical, demographic, and injury factors on symptom endorsement at GRTP protocol initiation, as well as differences in symptom severity scores between those who did and did not sustain a repeat injury within 90 days. A Cox regression was used to examine the association between symptom severity scores at GRTP protocol initiation and protocol duration. Results: Symptom severity scores at the time when the GRTP protocol was initiated were as follows: 0 to 5 (n = 1378; 90.0%), 6 to 10 (n = 76; 5.0%), 11 to 20 (n = 42; 3.0%), and ≥21 (n = 35; 2.0%). Demographic (sex and age), medical (psychiatric disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disorder), and other factors (baseline symptom endorsement and sleep) were significantly associated with higher symptom severity scores at the GRTP initiation ( P < .05). The 4 GRTP initiation time point symptom severity score groups did not significantly differ in total time to unrestricted RTP, χ2(3) = 1.4; P = .73. When days until the initiation of the GRTP protocol was included as a covariate, symptom severity scores between 11 and 20 ( P = .02; hazard ratio = 1.44; 95% CI, 1.06-1.96) and ≥21 ( P < .001; hazard ratio = 1.88; 95% CI, 1.34-2.63) were significantly associated with a longer GRTP protocol duration as compared with symptom severity scores between 0 and 5. Symptom severity scores at GRTP initiation did not significantly differ between those who sustained a repeat injury within 90 days and those who did not ( U = 29,893.5; P = .75). Conclusion: A range of symptom severity endorsement was observed at GRTP protocol initiation, with higher endorsement among those with higher baseline symptom endorsement and select demographic and medical history factors. Findings suggest that initiation of a GRTP protocol before an absolute absence of all symptoms is not associated with longer progression of the GRTP protocol, although symptom severity scores >10 were associated with longer duration of a GRTP protocol. Results can be utilized to guide clinicians toward optimal GRTP initiation (ie, balancing active recovery with avoidance of premature return to activity).


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (14) ◽  
pp. 3498-3504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaclyn Alois ◽  
Srinidhi Bellamkonda ◽  
Eamon T. Campolettano ◽  
Ryan A. Gellner ◽  
Amaris Genemaras ◽  
...  

Background: Concern for head injuries is widespread and has been reported by the media to be the number one cause of decreased participation in football among the American youth population. Identifying player mechanisms associated with intentional, or purposeful, head impacts should provide critical data for rule modifications, educational programs, and equipment design. Purpose: To investigate the frequency of intentional and unintentional head impacts and to examine the player mechanisms associated with intentional high-magnitude head impacts by comparing the impact mechanism distributions among session type, player position, and ball possession. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Head impact sensors and video footage of 68 players were used to analyze and classify 1319 high-magnitude impacts recorded over 1 season of youth football. Results: In total, 80% of the high-magnitude head impacts were classified as being caused by intentional use of the head. Head-to-head impact was the primary impact mechanism (n = 868; 82.7%) within the 1050 intentional high-magnitude impacts, with classifiable mechanisms, followed by head-to-body (n = 139; 13.2%), head-to-ground (n = 34; 3.2%), and head-to-equipment (n = 9; 0.9%). Head-to-head impacts also accounted for a greater proportion of impacts during practices (n = 625; 88.9%) than games, for linemen (n = 585; 90.3%) than perimeters and backs, and for ball carriers (n = 72; 79.1%) than tacklers. Conclusion: Overall, the majority of high-magnitude head impacts were intentional and resulted from head-to-head contact. The proportion of head-to-head contact was significantly higher for practices than games, linemen than backs and perimeter players, and ball carriers than tacklers.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 232596711879151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon J. Erickson ◽  
Peter N. Chalmers ◽  
Jon Newgren ◽  
Marissa Malaret ◽  
Michael O’Brien ◽  
...  

Background: The Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic (KJOC) shoulder and elbow outcome score is a functional assessment tool for the upper extremity of the overhead athlete, which is currently validated for administration in person. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to validate the KJOC score for administration over the phone. The hypothesis was that no difference will exist in KJOC scores for the same patient between administration in person versus over the phone. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Fifty patients were randomized to fill out the KJOC questionnaire either over the phone first (25 patients) or in person first (25 patients) based on an a priori power analysis. One week after the patients completed the initial KJOC on the phone or in person, they then filled out the score via the opposite method. Results were compared per question and for overall score. Results: There was a mean ± SD of 8 ± 5 days between when patients completed the first and second questionnaires. There were no significant differences in the overall KJOC score between the phone and paper groups ( P = .139). The intraclass correlation coefficient comparing paper and phone scores was 0.802 (95% CI, 0.767-0.883; P < .001), with a Cronbach alpha of 0.89. On comparison of individual questions, there were significant differences for questions 1, 3, and 8 ( P = .013, .023, and .042, respectively). Conclusion: The KJOC questionnaire can be administered over the phone with no significant difference in overall score as compared with that from in-person administration.


2020 ◽  
Vol 96 (5) ◽  
pp. 24-30
Author(s):  
A. E. Karamova ◽  
M. B. Zhilova ◽  
L. F. Znamenskaya ◽  
A. A. Vorontsova

Clinical reasoning. There is a need to optimize the use of UV-B-311 nm and PUVA-therapy in patients with mycosis fungoides to determine the duration of the treatment regimen, the number of sessions per week, and ultraviolet irradiation regimen. Goal of research. Evaluation of the effect of the type and duration phototherapy on efficacy in patients with mycosis fungoides. Principle. A comparative, non-randomized study of the effectiveness of phototherapy in patients with mycosis fungoides in the early stages. Evaluation of the effectiveness of UV-B-311 nm and PUVA therapy was performed using the BSA index (area of skin lesions) and Modified Severity-Weighted Assessment Tool (mSWAT), as well as according to the criteria proposed by the International Society for Skin Lymphomas (ISCL), the European Organization for the Study and Cancer Treatment (EORTC) and United States Cutaneous Lymphoma Consortium (USCLC). Results. The study included 14 patients with mycosis fungoides, 5 of whom received treatment with UV-B-311 nm, 9 PUVA therapy. A strong correlation was found between the duration of UV-B-311 nm therapy with mSWAT delta (R = 0.90; p = 0.038) and BSA delta (R = 0.90; p = 0.038), while similar correlation was not found in the PUVA-therapy group (mSWAT (R = 0.24; p = 0.527); BSA (R = 0.09; p = 0.823)). When comparing the effectiveness of therapy between the treatment group UV-B-311 nm and PUVA therapy, delta mSWAT and BSA at the 20th procedure, delta mSWAT and BSA after the end of therapy did not have a statistically significant difference between the UVB-311 nm and PUVA groups. Conclusion. Statistically significant correlation was found between the number of procedures and the effectiveness of therapy In the UV-B-311 nm group. An increase in the number of PUVA therapy procedures (after 20) does not lead to a statistically significant increase in the effectiveness of treatment. Additional research is needed to increase the level of evidence of the results and develop optimal phototherapy regimens.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 232596711879076
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Gil ◽  
Avi D. Goodman ◽  
Steven F. DeFroda ◽  
Brett D. Owens

Background: Injuries to the upper extremity among collegiate athletes are reported to account for approximately 20% of all injuries; however, little is known about the proportion of these injuries that require surgery. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to examine all shoulder injuries that required a surgical intervention and were recorded in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance Program (ISP). We hypothesized that contact would be the mechanism causing injuries most at risk for needing surgery and that dislocations would be the injuries most likely to require an operative intervention. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Injury surveillance data between 2009-2010 and 2013-2014 for operative collegiate shoulder injuries and their associated sport exposures were analyzed. Results: A total of 185 operative shoulder injuries occurred over 3,739,004 athlete-exposures (AEs), for an overall incidence of 0.49 per 10,000 AEs. The sports with the highest incidence of operative injuries were men’s football (1.31/10,000 AEs), men’s wrestling (1.14/10,000 AEs), men’s ice hockey (0.60/10,000 AEs), women’s gymnastics (0.44/10,000 AEs), and men’s swimming (0.41/10,000 AEs). Men were significantly more likely than women to sustain operative injuries for all sports combined. Of the injuries that required surgical treatment, superior labrum from anterior to posterior (SLAP) tears (46.4%), other non-SLAP glenoid labrum tears (46.2%), anterior shoulder dislocations (33.3%), and posterior shoulder dislocations (30.0%) were seen most often. There was no significant difference in injury proportion ratios (IPRs) for injuries requiring surgery when comparing contact versus noncontact mechanisms of injury (IPR, 1.0 [95% CI, 0.6-1.6]). The incidence of operative injuries sustained during competition was significantly higher compared with during practice. Conclusion: The sports with the highest incidence of operative shoulder injuries were men’s football, men’s wrestling, men’s ice hockey, and women’s gymnastics. Operative shoulder injuries were more likely to occur during competition. SLAP tears, other non-SLAP glenoid labrum tears, and anterior shoulder dislocations had the highest incidence of requiring surgery. Athletes sustaining these injuries, along with their coaches and medical providers, may benefit from identifying collegiate sport participants who are at highest risk for sustaining an operative injury. This may assist in planning medical care and setting expectations, which may be critical to a young athlete’s career.


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