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Boltz AJ, Lempke LB, Syrydiuk RA, Duma S, Pasquina P, McAllister TW, McCrea M, Chandran A, Broglio SP. Association of Sport Helmet Status on Concussion Presentation and Recovery in Male Collegiate Student-Athletes. Ann Biomed Eng 2024:10.1007/s10439-024-03575-0. [PMID: 38977528 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-024-03575-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Sporting helmets contain force attenuating materials which reduce traumatic head injury risk and may influence sport-related concussion (SRC) sequelae. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of sport helmet status with SRC-clinical presentation and recovery trajectories in men's collegiate athletes. Sport helmet status was based on the nature of sports being either helmeted/non-helmeted. 1070 SRCs in helmeted (HELM) sports (Men's-Football, Ice Hockey, and Lacrosse), and 399 SRCs in non-helmeted (NOHELM) sports (Men's-Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross Country/Track & Field, Diving, Gymnastics, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, and Volleyball) were analyzed. Multivariable negative binomial regression models analyzed associations between sport helmet status and post-injury cognition, balance, and symptom severity, adjusting for covariate effects (SRC history, loss of consciousness, anterograde/retrograde amnesia, event type). Kaplan-Meier curves evaluated median days to: initiation of return to play (iRTP) protocol, and unrestricted RTP (URTP) by sport helmet status. Log-rank tests were used to evaluate differential iRTP/URTP between groups. Two independent multivariable Weibull accelerated failure time models were used to examine differential iRTP and URTP between groups, after adjusting for aforementioned covariates and symptom severity score. Overall, the median days to iRTP and URTP was 6.3 and 12.0, respectively, and was comparable across NOHELM- and HELM-SRCs. Post-injury symptom severity was lower (Score Ratio 0.90, 95%CI 0.82, 0.98), and cognitive test performance was higher (Score Ratio 1.03, 95%CI 1.02, 1.05) in NOHELM-compared to HELM-SRCs. Estimated time spent recovering to iRTP/URTP was comparable between sport helmet status groups. Findings suggest that the grouping of sports into helmeted and non-helmeted show slight differences in clinical presentation but not recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian J Boltz
- Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Landon B Lempke
- Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Reid A Syrydiuk
- Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Stefan Duma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Paul Pasquina
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Thomas W McAllister
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Michael McCrea
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Avinash Chandran
- Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research and Prevention, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Steven P Broglio
- Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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van Rhijn S, Teixeira-Dias M, Medford N, Nicholson T, Okai D, Shotbolt P, Deeley Q. Predictive Utility of Diffusion MRI After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Civilian Populations: A Systematic Review. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 36:187-196. [PMID: 38528807 DOI: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.20230122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A considerable number of people experience persisting symptoms and functional limitations after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). It is unclear whether subtle white matter changes contribute to this phenomenon. In this systematic review, the authors evaluated whether microstructural white matter indices on advanced MRI are related to clinical dysfunction among patients without abnormalities on standard brain computed tomography (CT) or MRI (uncomplicated mTBI). METHODS A search of multiple databases was performed. Studies with individuals who experienced blast-related, sports-related, or multiple mTBIs were excluded. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) metrics and cognitive, neuropsychiatric, or functional outcome measures were extracted from each study. RESULTS Thirteen studies were selected (participants with mTBI, N=553; healthy control group, N=438). Seven DTI studies evaluated cognitive function, with five reporting significant correlations between reduced white matter integrity and deficits in attention, processing speed, and executive function at 6-12 months after injury (three studies included only individuals with uncomplicated mTBI). Four studies found significant correlations between DTI metrics and persistent postconcussive symptoms after 3-12 months (one study included only individuals with uncomplicated mTBI). Two SWI studies reported conflicting findings regarding the relationship between the presence of microbleeds and postconcussive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The results revealed that indices of microstructural white matter integrity may relate to clinical presentation 3-12 months after injury in uncomplicated mTBI. However, analysis methods and brain regions studied varied across studies. Further research is needed to identify relationships between white matter indices in specific brain regions and symptom persistence beyond 12 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne van Rhijn
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London (all authors); Perinatal Mental Health Service, West London National Health Service Trust, London (van Rhijn)
| | - Maria Teixeira-Dias
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London (all authors); Perinatal Mental Health Service, West London National Health Service Trust, London (van Rhijn)
| | - Nick Medford
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London (all authors); Perinatal Mental Health Service, West London National Health Service Trust, London (van Rhijn)
| | - Timothy Nicholson
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London (all authors); Perinatal Mental Health Service, West London National Health Service Trust, London (van Rhijn)
| | - David Okai
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London (all authors); Perinatal Mental Health Service, West London National Health Service Trust, London (van Rhijn)
| | - Paul Shotbolt
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London (all authors); Perinatal Mental Health Service, West London National Health Service Trust, London (van Rhijn)
| | - Quinton Deeley
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London (all authors); Perinatal Mental Health Service, West London National Health Service Trust, London (van Rhijn)
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Beidler E, Kelshaw PM, Wallace J, Larson MJ, Munce TA, Donahue CC, Bowman TG, Pappadis MR, Decker MN, Walton SR, Didehbani N, Cifu DX, Resch JE. Racial identity and concussion diagnosis and recovery trajectories in collegiate athletes: a LIMBIC MATARS investigation. Brain Inj 2023:1-9. [PMID: 37691328 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2023.2253528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if there were concussion diagnosis and recovery disparities between collegiate athletes with Black and White racial identities. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. METHODS Concussion information was extracted from NCAA athlete medical files at LIMBIC MATARS member institutions from the 2015-16' to 2019-20' academic years. A total of 410 concussions from 9 institutions were included that provided all independent (i.e. racial identity of Black or White) and dependent variable information (i.e. dates of injury, diagnosis, symptom resolution, and return to sport) that were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U tests. The sample consisted of 114 (27.8%) concussions sustained by Black athletes and 296 (72.1%) sustained by White athletes. RESULTS The overall sample had a median of 0 days between injury occurrence to diagnosis, 7 days to symptom resolution, and 12 days to return to sport. No significant timing differences were observed for concussion diagnosis (p = .14), symptom resolution (p = .39), or return to sport (p = 0.58) between collegiate athletes with Black versus White racial identities. CONCLUSIONS These findings may reflect equitable access to onsite sports medicine healthcare resources that facilitate concussion management in the collegiate sport setting. Future work should explore these associations with a larger and more diverse sample of collegiate athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Beidler
- Department of Athletic Training, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - P M Kelshaw
- Department of Kinesiology, Brain Research & Assessment Initiative of New Hampshire (BRAIN) Laboratory, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
| | - J Wallace
- Department of Health Science, Athletic Training Program, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - M J Larson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - T A Munce
- Environmental Influences on Health & Disease Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
| | - C C Donahue
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - T G Bowman
- Department of Athletic Training, College of Health Sciences, University of Lynchburg, Lynchburg, Virginia, USA
| | - M R Pappadis
- Department of Population Health and Health Disparities, School of Public and Population Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - M N Decker
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
| | - S R Walton
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - N Didehbani
- Departments of Psychiatry and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - D X Cifu
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - J E Resch
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Cook NE, Gaudet CE, Kissinger-Knox A, Liu BC, Hunter AA, Norman MA, Saadi A, Iverson GL. Race, ethnicity, and clinical outcome following sport-related concussion: a systematic review. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1110539. [PMID: 37388549 PMCID: PMC10306165 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1110539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction This systematic review examined whether race or ethnicity are associated with clinical outcomes (e.g., time to return to school/sports, symptom duration, vestibular deficits, and neurocognitive functioning) following sport-related concussion among child, adolescent, or college-aged student athletes. Additionally, this review assessed whether the existing literature on this topic incorporated or included broader coverage of social determinants of health. Methods The online databases PubMed, MEDLINE®, PsycINFO®, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched. Results A total of 5,118 abstracts were screened and 12 studies met inclusion criteria, including 2,887 youth and young adults. Among the included articles, only 3 studies (25%) examined whether race and ethnicity were associated with outcomes following concussion as a primary objective. None of the studies assessed the association between social determinants of health and outcomes following concussion as a primary objective, although 5 studies (41.7%) addressed a social determinant of health or closely related topic as a secondary objective. Discussion Overall, the literature to date is extremely limited and insufficient for drawing conclusions about whether race or ethnicity are categorically associated with outcomes from sport-related concussion, or more specifically, whether there are socioeconomic, structural, or cultural differences or disparities that might be associated with clinical outcome. Systematic review registration identifier: PROSPERO, CRD42016041479, CRD42019128300.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan E. Cook
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Sports Concussion Program, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Charles E. Gaudet
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Sports Concussion Program, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Alicia Kissinger-Knox
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Sports Concussion Program, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Brian C. Liu
- Sports Concussion Program, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Amy A. Hunter
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States
- Injury Prevention Center, Connecticut Children's Medical Center and Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, United States
| | - Marc A. Norman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Altaf Saadi
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Grant L. Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Sports Concussion Program, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Schoen Adams Research Institute at Spaulding Rehabilitation, Charlestown, MA, United States
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Nocera A, Sbrollini A, Romagnoli S, Morettini M, Gambi E, Burattini L. Physiological and Biomechanical Monitoring in American Football Players: A Scoping Review. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:3538. [PMID: 37050597 PMCID: PMC10098592 DOI: 10.3390/s23073538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
American football is the sport with the highest rates of concussion injuries. Biomedical engineering applications may support athletes in monitoring their injuries, evaluating the effectiveness of their equipment, and leading industrial research in this sport. This literature review aims to report on the applications of biomedical engineering research in American football, highlighting the main trends and gaps. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines and gathered a total of 1629 records from PubMed (n = 368), Web of Science (n = 665), and Scopus (n = 596). The records were analyzed, tabulated, and clustered in topics. In total, 112 studies were selected and divided by topic in the biomechanics of concussion (n = 55), biomechanics of footwear (n = 6), biomechanics of sport-related movements (n = 6), the aerodynamics of football and catch (n = 3), injury prediction (n = 8), heat monitoring of physiological parameters (n = 8), and monitoring of the training load (n = 25). The safety of players has fueled most of the research that has led to innovations in helmet and footwear design, as well as improvements in the understanding and prevention of injuries and heat monitoring. The other important motivator for research is the improvement of performance, which has led to the monitoring of training loads and catches, and studies on the aerodynamics of football. The main gaps found in the literature were regarding the monitoring of internal loads and the innovation of shoulder pads.
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Shumski EJ, Anderson MN, Schmidt JD, Lynall RC. Motor vehicle crash concussion mechanism displays a greater total number of symptoms and greater affective symptom severity but no neurocognitive differences compared with sport-related concussion mechanism. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2023:1-7. [PMID: 36931313 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2023.2190522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Previous research among adolescents has shown differences in symptoms and neurocognitive performance between sport-related (SRC) and motor vehicle crash (MVC) concussion mechanisms. Limited research has focused on young adults. The purpose of our study was to compare symptoms, balance, and neurocognitive performance between SRC and MVC mechanisms in young adults. Forty-three (58.1% female, age = 25.5 ± 3.2 years, days since concussion = 12.8 ± 12.7) and 26 (76.9% female, age = 24.1 ± 5.6 years, days since concussion = 12.6 ± 8.3) individuals with an SRC and MVC mechanism, respectively, participated. Primary outcome measures included the total number, severity, cluster (disorientation, migraine, lethargy, and affective) of post-concussion symptoms endorsed, Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), and CNS Vital Signs scores. Clusters are subgroups of symptoms used for targeted rehabilitation. We used independent t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests to compare symptoms, BESS, and neurocognitive performance. Cliff's Delta effect size was interpreted as negligible (<0.15), small (0.15-0.33), medium (0.34-0.47), and large (≥0.48). There were no group differences for any demographic factors or preexisting conditions (p-range = 0.112-0.991). Participants with an MVC mechanism reported a greater number of total post-concussion symptoms (p = 0.025, Cliff's Delta = 0.32) and a more severe affective symptom cluster (p = 0.010, Cliff's Delta = 0.37). There were no group differences for BESS or neurocognitive performance after correcting for multiple comparisons. The MVC mechanism resulted in a greater total symptom burden relative to the SRC mechanism. Medical practitioners and individuals experiencing a concussion should know that concussions are heterogeneous within and across various mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Shumski
- UGA Concussion Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Ramsey Student Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Melissa N Anderson
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Julianne D Schmidt
- UGA Concussion Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Ramsey Student Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Robert C Lynall
- UGA Concussion Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Ramsey Student Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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Rowson B, Duma SM. A Review of Head Injury Metrics Used in Automotive Safety and Sports Protective Equipment. J Biomech Eng 2022; 144:1140295. [PMID: 35445266 DOI: 10.1115/1.4054379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Despite advances in the understanding of human tolerances to brain injury, injury metrics used in automotive safety and protective equipment standards have changed little since they were first implemented nearly a half-century ago. Although numerous metrics have been proposed as improvements over the ones currently used, evaluating the predictive capability of these metrics is challenging. The purpose of this review is to summarize existing head injury metrics that have been proposed for both severe head injuries, such as skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) including concussions. Metrics have been developed based on head kinematics or intracranial parameters such as brain tissue stress and strain. Kinematic metrics are either based on translational motion, rotational motion, or a combination of the two. Tissue-based metrics are based on finite element model simulations or in vitro experiments. This review concludes with a discussion of the limitations of current metrics and how improvements can be made in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany Rowson
- Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS), Virginia Tech, 437 Kelly Hall, 325 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Stefan M Duma
- Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS), Virginia Tech, 410H Kelly Hall, 325 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061
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8
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Gaudet CE, Iverson GL, Kissinger-Knox A, Van Patten R, Cook NE. Clinical Outcome Following Concussion Among College Athletes with a History of Prior Concussion: A Systematic Review. SPORTS MEDICINE - OPEN 2022; 8:134. [PMID: 36308612 PMCID: PMC9617993 DOI: 10.1186/s40798-022-00528-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is long-standing interest in, and concern about, whether collegiate athletes with a history of concussion will experience worse clinical outcomes, or prolonged recovery, should they sustain a subsequent concussion. OBJECTIVES This systematic review examined the association between prior concussion history and clinical outcomes following a subsequent sport-related concussion among college-age student athletes. STUDY DESIGN Systematic review. METHODS We screened 5,118 abstracts and 619 full-text articles that were appraised to determine whether they met inclusion criteria. We utilized a likelihood heuristic to assess the probability of observing a specific number of statistically significant and nonsignificant studies reporting an association between concussion history and clinical outcomes. We conducted a narrative synthesis of the study findings. RESULTS Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Thirteen studies reported the number of participants with a history of prior concussions (≥ 1), which totaled 1690 of 4573 total participants (on average 37.0% of study participants; median = 46.0%, range 5.6-63.8%). On the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale, the risk of bias ratings ranged from 3 to 9 (mean = 5.4, SD = 1.4). Across all studies, 43.8% (k = 7/16) reported at least one statistically significant result among primary analyses showing an association between concussion history and worse clinical outcome. A minority of studies reporting on symptom duration (4/13, 30.8%) and time to return to play (2/7, 28.6%) found an association between concussion history and worse outcome. Studies included in the review reported limited information pertaining to the characteristics of prior concussions, such as presence or duration of loss of consciousness or posttraumatic amnesia, age at first lifetime concussion, time since most recent past concussion, or length of recovery from prior concussions. CONCLUSION The question of whether college athletes with a prior history of concussion have worse clinical outcome from their next sport-related concussion remains unresolved. The published results are mixed and in aggregate show modest evidence for an association. Many studies have small samples, and only three studies were designed specifically to address this research question. Important outcomes, such as time to return to academics, have not been adequately studied. Larger hypothesis-driven studies considering the number of prior concussions (e.g., 3 or more) are needed. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42016041479, CRD42019128300.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E. Gaudet
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program, Waltham, MA USA ,grid.416228.b0000 0004 0451 8771Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA USA
| | - Grant L. Iverson
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program, Waltham, MA USA ,grid.416228.b0000 0004 0451 8771Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA USA ,Center for Health and Rehabilitation Research, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
| | - Alicia Kissinger-Knox
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program, Waltham, MA USA ,grid.416228.b0000 0004 0451 8771Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA USA
| | - Ryan Van Patten
- grid.413904.b0000 0004 0420 4094Providence Veterans Administration Medical Center, Providence, RI USA ,grid.40263.330000 0004 1936 9094Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI USA
| | - Nathan E. Cook
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program, Waltham, MA USA ,grid.416228.b0000 0004 0451 8771Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA USA
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9
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Consensus Head Acceleration Measurement Practices (CHAMP): Study Design and Statistical Analysis. Ann Biomed Eng 2022; 50:1346-1355. [PMID: 36253602 PMCID: PMC9652215 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-022-03101-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Head impact measurement devices enable opportunities to collect impact data directly from humans to study topics like concussion biomechanics, head impact exposure and its effects, and concussion risk reduction techniques in sports when paired with other relevant data. With recent advances in head impact measurement devices and cost-effective price points, more and more investigators are using them to study brain health questions. However, as the field's literature grows, the variance in study quality is apparent. This brief paper aims to provide a high-level set of key considerations for the design and analysis of head impact measurement studies that can help avoid flaws introduced by sampling biases, false data, missing data, and confounding factors. We discuss key points through four overarching themes: study design, operational management, data quality, and data analysis.
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Lauck BJ, Sinnott AM, Kiefer AW, Padua DA, Powell JR, Sledge HR, Mihalik JP. Association Between Head Impact Biomechanics and Physical Load in College Football. Ann Biomed Eng 2022; 50:1437-1443. [PMID: 35972602 PMCID: PMC9380687 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-022-03042-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Head impacts and physical exertion are ubiquitous in American football, but the relationship between these factors is poorly understood across a competitive season or even within an individual session. Gameplay characteristics, including player position and session type, may contribute to these relationships but have not been prospectively examined. The current study aimed to determine if an association exists between head impact biomechanics and physical load metrics. We prospectively studied college football players during the 2017–2021 football seasons across representative playing positions (15 offensive and defensive linemen, 11 linebackers and tight ends, and 15 defensive backs, running backs, and receivers). Participants wore halters embedded with Catapult Vector GPS monitoring systems to quantify player load and participant helmets were equipped with the Head Impact Telemetry System to quantify head impact biomechanics and repetitive head impact exposure (RHIE). Generalized linear models and linear regression models were employed to analyze in-session and season-long outcomes, while addressing factors such as player position and session type on our data. Player load was associated with RHIE (p < 0.001). Season-long player load predicted season-long RHIE (R2 = 0.31; p < 0.001). Position group affected in-session player load (p = 0.025). Both player load and RHIE were greater in games than in practices (p < 0.001), and position group did not affect RHIE (p = 0.343). Physical load burden was associated with RHIE within sessions and across an entire season. Session type affected both RHIE and player load, while position group only affected player load. Our data point to tracking physical load burden as a potential proxy for monitoring anticipated RHIE during the season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley J Lauck
- Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2207 Stallings-Evans Sports Medicine Center, Campus, Box 8700, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-8700, USA
| | - Aaron M Sinnott
- Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2207 Stallings-Evans Sports Medicine Center, Campus, Box 8700, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-8700, USA
| | - Adam W Kiefer
- Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2207 Stallings-Evans Sports Medicine Center, Campus, Box 8700, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-8700, USA
- STAR Heel Performance Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, G406 Fetzer Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Human Movement Science, Department of Health Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 209 Fetzer Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Darin A Padua
- MOTION Science Institute, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 032 Fetzer Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Human Movement Science, Department of Health Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 209 Fetzer Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jacob R Powell
- Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2207 Stallings-Evans Sports Medicine Center, Campus, Box 8700, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-8700, USA
- Human Movement Science, Department of Health Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 209 Fetzer Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Haley R Sledge
- Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2207 Stallings-Evans Sports Medicine Center, Campus, Box 8700, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-8700, USA
| | - Jason P Mihalik
- Matthew Gfeller Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2207 Stallings-Evans Sports Medicine Center, Campus, Box 8700, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-8700, USA.
- Human Movement Science, Department of Health Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 209 Fetzer Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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11
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Seifert J, Shah AS, Harezlak J, Rowson S, Mihalik JP, Riggen L, Duma S, Brooks A, Cameron KL, Giza CC, Goldman J, Guskiewicz KM, Houston MN, Jackson JC, McGinty G, Pasquina P, Broglio SP, McAllister TW, McCrea MA, Stemper BD. Time Delta Head Impact Frequency: An Analysis on Head Impact Exposure in the Lead Up to a Concussion: Findings from the NCAA-DOD Care Consortium. Ann Biomed Eng 2022; 50:1473-1487. [PMID: 35933459 PMCID: PMC9652163 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-022-03032-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Sport-related concussions can result from a single high magnitude impact that generates concussive symptoms, repeated subconcussive head impacts aggregating to generate concussive symptoms, or a combined effect from the two mechanisms. The array of symptoms produced by these mechanisms may be clinically interpreted as a sport-related concussion. It was hypothesized that head impact exposure resulting in concussion is influenced by severity, total number, and frequency of subconcussive head impacts. The influence of total number and magnitude of impacts was previously explored, but frequency was investigated to a lesser degree. In this analysis, head impact frequency was investigated over a new metric called ‘time delta’, the time difference from the first recorded head impact of the day until the concussive impact. Four exposure metrics were analyzed over the time delta to determine whether frequency of head impact exposure was greater for athletes on their concussion date relative to other dates of contact participation. Those metrics included head impact frequency, head impact accrual rate, risk weighted exposure (RWE), and RWE accrual rate. Athletes experienced an elevated median number of impacts, RWE, and RWE accrual rate over the time delta on their concussion date compared to non-injury sessions. This finding suggests elevated frequency of head impact exposure on the concussion date compared to other dates that may precipitate the onset of concussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Seifert
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University and Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.,Neuroscience Research Labs, Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Research 151, 5000 W. National Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53295, USA
| | - Alok S Shah
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.,Neuroscience Research Labs, Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Research 151, 5000 W. National Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53295, USA
| | - Jaroslaw Harezlak
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Public Health, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Steven Rowson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Jason P Mihalik
- Matthew Gfeller Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Larry Riggen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Public Health, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Stefan Duma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Alison Brooks
- Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kenneth L Cameron
- John A. Feagin Jr. Sports Medicine Fellowship, Keller Army Hospital, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, USA
| | - Christopher C Giza
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics, UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Program, David Geffem School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Joshua Goldman
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics, UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Program, David Geffem School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kevin M Guskiewicz
- Matthew Gfeller Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Megan N Houston
- John A. Feagin Jr. Sports Medicine Fellowship, Keller Army Hospital, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan C Jackson
- Department of Sports Medicine, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
| | - Gerald McGinty
- Department of Sports Medicine, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
| | - Paul Pasquina
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Steven P Broglio
- Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Michael A McCrea
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.,Neuroscience Research Labs, Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Research 151, 5000 W. National Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53295, USA
| | - Brian D Stemper
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University and Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. .,Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. .,Neuroscience Research Labs, Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Research 151, 5000 W. National Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53295, USA.
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12
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Cheng R, Bergmann J. Impact and workload are dominating on-field data monitoring techniques to track health and well-being of team-sports athletes. Physiol Meas 2022; 43. [PMID: 35235917 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6579/ac59db] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Participation in sports has become an essential part of healthy living in today's world. However, injuries can often occur during sports participation. With advancements in sensor technology and data analytics, many sports have turned to technology-aided, data-driven, on-field monitoring techniques to help prevent injuries and plan better player management. This review searched three databases, Web of Science, IEEE, and PubMed, for peer-reviewed articles on on-field data monitoring techniques that are aimed at improving the health and well-being of team-sports athletes. It was found that most on-field data monitoring methods can be categorized as either player workload tracking or physical impact monitoring. Many studies covered during this review attempted to establish correlations between captured physical and physiological data, as well as injury risk. In these studies, workloads are frequently tracked to optimize training and prevent overtraining in addition to overuse injuries, while impacts are most often tracked to detect and investigate traumatic injuries. This review found that current sports monitoring practices often suffer from a lack of standard metrics and definitions. Furthermore, existing data-analysis models are created on data that are limited in both size and diversity. These issues need to be addressed to create ecologically valid approaches in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runbei Cheng
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Thom Building, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PJ, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Jeroen Bergmann
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Thom Building, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PJ, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
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13
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Stitt D, Kabaliuk N, Alexander K, Draper N. Potential of Soft-Shell Rugby Headgear to Mitigate Linear and Rotational Peak Accelerations. Ann Biomed Eng 2022; 50:1546-1564. [DOI: 10.1007/s10439-022-02912-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AbstractRugby union is a popular sport played across the world. The physical contact inherent in the game means that players are at increased risk of concussive injury. In 2019, World Rugby created a new category of permitted headgear under Law 4 as a medical device. This established a pathway for headgear designed to reduce peak accelerations to be worn in matches. Investigations of the potential of soft-shelled protective headgear to reduce head impact accelerations have been mostly limited to the analysis of linear kinematics. However rotational head impact accelerations have long been implicated as far more injurious. The aim of this study, therefore, was to assess the linear and rotational acceleration reduction brought about by soft-shelled rugby headgear. A Hybrid III headform and neck were dropped onto a modular elastomer programmer impact surface, impacting at four different velocities (1.7–3.4 m/s) in five different impact orientations. Impact surface angles were 0°, 30°, and 45°. Peak linear and rotational accelerations, PLA and PRA respectively, were recorded. All headgear significantly reduced PLAs and PRAs when compared to a no headgear scenario. The new generation, headgear reduced all measures significantly more than the older generation of headgear. Impact locations offset from the center of mass of the headform resulted in the highest PRAs measured. As the impact surface angle increased, both PLAs and PRAs decreased. The study demonstrated that headgear tested lowered PLAs by up to 50%, and PRAs by up to 60% compared to the bare headform. Our data suggest that new generation headgear could make a difference on the field in reducing injurious impact accelerations in a collision.
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14
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Rowson B, Duma SM. Special Issue on Concussions in Sports. Ann Biomed Eng 2021; 49:2673-2676. [PMID: 34435277 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-021-02847-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bethany Rowson
- Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Stefan M Duma
- Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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15
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Liu Y, Domel AG, Cecchi NJ, Rice E, Callan AA, Raymond SJ, Zhou Z, Zhan X, Li Y, Zeineh MM, Grant GA, Camarillo DB. Time Window of Head Impact Kinematics Measurement for Calculation of Brain Strain and Strain Rate in American Football. Ann Biomed Eng 2021; 49:2791-2804. [PMID: 34231091 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-021-02821-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Wearable devices have been shown to effectively measure the head's movement during impacts in sports like American football. When a head impact occurs, the device is triggered to collect and save the kinematic measurements during a predefined time window. Then, based on the collected kinematics, finite element (FE) head models can calculate brain strain and strain rate, which are used to evaluate the risk of mild traumatic brain injury. To find a time window that can provide a sufficient duration of kinematics for FE analysis, we investigated 118 on-field video-confirmed football head impacts collected by the Stanford Instrumented Mouthguard. The simulation results based on the kinematics truncated to a shorter time window were compared with the original to determine the minimum time window needed for football. Because the individual differences in brain geometry influence these calculations, we included six representative brain geometries and found that larger brains need a longer time window of kinematics for accurate calculation. Among the different sizes of brains, a pre-trigger time of 40 ms and a post-trigger time of 70 ms were found to yield calculations of brain strain and strain rate that were not significantly different from calculations using the original 200 ms time window recorded by the mouthguard. Therefore, approximately 110 ms is recommended for complete modeling of impacts for football.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhe Liu
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - August G Domel
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Nicholas J Cecchi
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Eli Rice
- Stanford Center for Clinical Research, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Ashlyn A Callan
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Samuel J Raymond
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Zhou Zhou
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Xianghao Zhan
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Yiheng Li
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Michael M Zeineh
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Gerald A Grant
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - David B Camarillo
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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16
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Preseason Cerebrovascular Function in Adolescent Athletes. Ann Biomed Eng 2021; 49:2734-2746. [PMID: 33754253 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-021-02764-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sport participation, concussion history, and age of first exposure to football on preseason cerebrovascular function in adolescent athletes. Athletes (n = 53, age = 15.8 ± 1.2 years) were examined based on three exposure groupings: (1) sport participation (football vs. non-collision), (2) concussion history (none vs. ≥ 1), and (3) age of first exposure (football participants only). Transcranial Doppler assessed cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) and neurovascular coupling (NVC), and separate independent samples t-tests evaluated group differences in CVR and NVC outcomes. Separate univariate linear regressions determined how age of first exposure related to CVR and NVC outcomes. Linear mixed effects models assessed group differences in CVR and NVC relative response curves. Differential response to NVC visual task response was significantly greater in non-collision sport athletes (F1,2946 = 38.69, p < 0.0001) and athletes without a concussion history (F1,2946 = 25.23, p < 0.0001). Older age of first exposure significantly predicted reduced breath-holding CVR response (F1,1560 = 2.92, p = 0.03). Healthy adolescent athletes have similar pre-season cerebrovascular function despite different sport participation and concussion history. However, age of first exposure may predict CVR in adolescent football athletes. Developmental literature identifies cerebrovascular function as dynamically changing throughout adolescence. Our study provides fundamental data informing the clinical meaningfulness of short- and long-term physiological function changes.
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17
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Neurovascular Coupling in Special Operations Forces Combat Soldiers. Ann Biomed Eng 2020; 49:793-801. [PMID: 32944852 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02604-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate how concussion history affects neurovascular coupling in Special Operations Forces (SOF) combat Soldiers. We studied 100 SOF combat Soldiers [age = 33.5 ± 4.3 years; height = 180.4 ± 6.0 cm; 55 (55.0%) with self-reported concussion history]. We employed transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound to assess neurovascular coupling (NVC) via changes in posterior cerebral artery (PCA) velocity in response to a reading and a visual search task. Baseline TCD data were collected for 2 min. NVC was quantified by the percent change in overall PCA response curves. We employed linear mixed effect models using a linear spline with one knot to assess group differences in percent change observed in the PCA velocity response curves between SOF combat Soldiers with and without a concussion history. Baseline PCA velocity did not significantly differ (t98 = 1.28, p = 0.20) between those with and without concussion history. Relative PCA velocity response curves did not differ between those with and without a concussion history during the reading task (F1,98 = 0.80, p = 0.37) or the visual search task (F1,98 = 0.52, p = 0.47). When assessing only SOF combat Soldiers with a concussion history, differential response to task was significantly greater in those with 3 or more concussions (F1,4341 = 27.24, p < 0.0001) relative to those with 1-2 concussions. Despite no main effect of concussion history on neurovascular coupling response in SOF combat Soldiers, we observed a dose-response based on lifetime concussion incidence. While long-term neurophysiological effects associated with head impact and blast-related injury are currently unknown, assessing NVC response may provide further insight into cerebrovascular function and overall physiological health.
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