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Conway Kleven B, Chien LC, Young DL, Cross CL, Labus B, Bernick C. Repetitive head impacts among professional fighters: a pilot study evaluating Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome and postural balance. PHYSICIAN SPORTSMED 2024; 52:513-519. [PMID: 38418380 DOI: 10.1080/00913847.2024.2325331] [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] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Clinical criteria for Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome (ccTES) were developed for research purposes to reflect the clinical symptoms of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). The aims of this study were to 1) determine whether there was an association between the research diagnosis of TES and impaired postural balance among retired professional fighters, and 2) determine repetitive head impacts (RHI) exposure thresholds among both TES positive and TES negative groups in retired professional fighters when evaluating for balance impairment. METHODS This was a pilot study evaluating postural balance among participants of the Professional Athletes Brain Health Study (PABHS). Among the cohort, 57 retired professional fighters met the criteria for inclusion in this study. A generalized linear model with generalized estimating equations was used to compare various balance measures longitudinally between fighters with and without TES. RESULTS A significant association was observed between a TES diagnosis and worsening performance on double-leg balance assessments when stratifying by RHI exposure thresholds. Additionally, elevated exposure to RHI was significantly associated with increased odds of developing TES; The odds for TES diagnosis were 563% (95% CI = 113, 1963; p-value = 0.0011) greater among athletes with 32 or more professional fights compared to athletes with less than 32 fights when stratifying by balance measures. Likewise, the odds for TES diagnosis were 43% (95% CI = 10, 102; p-value = 0.0439) greater with worsening double leg stance balance in athletes exposed to 32 or more fights. CONCLUSION This pilot study provides preliminary evidence of a relationship between declining postural balance and a TES diagnosis among retired professional fighters with elevated RHI exposure. Further research exploring more complex assessments such as the Functional Gait Assessment may be of benefit to improve clinical understanding of the relationship between TES, RHI, and balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke Conway Kleven
- Sports Innovation Institute, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
- School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Lung-Chang Chien
- School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Daniel L Young
- School of Integrated Health Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Chad L Cross
- School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Brian Labus
- School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Charles Bernick
- Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, NV, USA
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Kegel N, Zynda AJ, Feder AH, Trbovich A, Eagle SR, Smith P, Fazio-Sumrok V, Kontos AP. Immediate post-concussion assessment and cognitive testing Pediatric (ImPACT Pediatric) change scores and factors associated with performance in patients aged 5-9 years following concussion: Preliminary findings. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. CHILD 2024:1-8. [PMID: 39087557 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2024.2379956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Computerized neurocognitive testing is one component of a multidomain assessment of concussion. However, the use of computerized neurocognitive testing has been limited to patients aged 11 years and up, leaving clinicians with few options to evaluate younger children. PURPOSE To examine the change in Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing Pediatric (ImPACT Pediatric) (ImPACT Applications, 2021) scores and factors associated with performance in children aged 5-9 years following a concussion. METHODS Participants included 63 children (42% [n = 27] female) aged 5-9 (M = 7.5 ± 1.0) years within 30 (M = 8.5 ± 5.9) days of a concussion. All participants completed the ImPACT Pediatric at their initial visit and at medical clearance for their return to activity (RTA) visit. The ImPACT Pediatric test is a computerized neurocognitive battery that includes 5 tests that assess memory and visual processing speed. Multivariate and univariate analyses of variance and paired t-tests were used to compare ImPACT Pediatric scores from the initial visit to medical clearance. Multivariate and univariate analyses of covariance and multiple linear regression examined factors associated with ImPACT Pediatric performance. RESULTS Participants demonstrated improved overall performance from the initial visit to the medical clearance visit (F(4, 59)=3.08, p = 0.02, Wilks' Λ = 0.83, ηp2=0.17), with significant improvement in Rapid Processing Speed (F(1, 62)=7.48, p < 0.01, ηp2=0.11). When controlling for age, sex, history of ADHD, and days to clinic, the improvement in overall performance remained significant (F(4, 51)=2.99, p = 0.03, Wilks' Λ = 0.81, ηp2=0.19). Older age was significantly associated with the Rapid Processing composite score at the initial visit (F(4, 59)=5.9, p < 0.001, Adj. R2=0.25) and medical clearance visit (F(4, 59)=3.8, p = 0.008, Adj. R2=0.16), with older children associated with better performance at both time points (Initial visit: B = 8.17, p < 0.001; Medical Clearance: B = 3.62, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION Our main findings suggest that children aged 5-9 years improved significantly in Rapid Processing on the ImPACT Pediatric from the initial visit to medical clearance. However, no differences were found for the memory components of the ImPACT Pediatric. Older children also performed better on processing speed than younger children. The findings suggest that the processing speed components of ImPACT Pediatric are useful for monitoring improvements in neurocognitive functioning following concussion in children aged 5-9 years, but that age differences need to be considered when interpreting performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Kegel
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Aaron J Zynda
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Abigail H Feder
- Northside Hospital Concussion Institute, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Alicia Trbovich
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Shawn R Eagle
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Vanessa Fazio-Sumrok
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Anthony P Kontos
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Jain D, Porfido T, de Souza NL, Brown AM, Caccese JB, Czykier A, Dennis EL, Tosto-Mancuso J, Wilde EA, Esopenko C. Neural Mechanisms Associated With Postural Control in Collegiate Soccer and Non-Soccer Athletes. J Neurol Phys Ther 2024; 48:151-158. [PMID: 38709008 DOI: 10.1097/npt.0000000000000476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Sport-specific training may improve postural control, while repetitive head acceleration events (RHAEs) may compromise it. Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying postural control may contextualize changes due to training and RHAE. The goal of this study was to determine whether postural sway during the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) is related to white matter organization (WMO) in collegiate athletes. METHODS Collegiate soccer ( N = 33) and non-soccer athletes ( N = 44) completed BESS and diffusion tensor imaging. Postural sway during each BESS stance, fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean diffusivity (MD) were extracted for each participant. Partial least squares analyses determined group differences in postural sway and WMO and the relationship between postural sway and WMO in soccer and non-soccer athletes separately. RESULTS Soccer athletes displayed better performance during BESS 6, with lower FA and higher MD in the medial lemniscus (ML) and inferior cerebellar peduncle (ICP), compared to non-soccer athletes. In soccer athletes, lower sway during BESS 2, 5, and 6 was associated with higher FA and lower MD in the corticospinal tract, ML, and ICP. In non-soccer athletes, lower sway during BESS 2 and 4 was associated with higher FA and lower MD in the ML and ICP. BESS 1 was associated with higher FA, and BESS 3 was associated with lower MD in the same tracts in non-soccer athletes. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Soccer and non-soccer athletes showed unique relationships between sway and WMO, suggesting that sport-specific exposures are partly responsible for changes in neurological structure and accompanying postural control performance and should be considered when evaluating postural control after injury.Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A472 ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Jain
- Divya Jain and Tara Porfido are considering as co-first authors. Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York (D.J., N.L.D., A.C., C.E.); Department of Rehabilitation & Movement Sciences, School of Health Professions, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey (T.P., A.M.B.); School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio (J.B.C.); Department of Neurology, University of Utah (E.L.D., E.A.W.); George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, Utah (E.L.D., E.A.W.); and Abilities Research Center, Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York (J.T.-M.)
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Saalfield J, Piersol KL, Esopenko C, Bates ME, Weismiller SA, Brostrand K, Todaro SM, Conway FN, Wilde EA, Buckman JF. Digital neuropsychological test performance in a large sample of uninjured collegiate athletes. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2024; 31:155-161. [PMID: 34822256 PMCID: PMC10199655 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2021.2003365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Digital neuropsychological test batteries are popular in college athletics; however, well-validated digital tests that are short and portable are needed to expand the feasibility of performing cognitive testing quickly, reliably, and outside standard clinical settings. This study assessed performance on digital versions of Trail Making Test (dTMT) and a modified Symbol Digit Modalities Test (dSDMT) in uninjured collegiate athletes (n = 537; 47% female) using the C3Logix baseline assessment module. Time to complete (dTMT) and the number of correct responses (dSDMT) were computed, transformed into z scores, and compared to age-matched normative data from analogous paper-and-pencil tests. Overall sample performance was compared to normative sample performance using Cohen's d. Sample averages on the dTMT, Part A, and dSDMT were similar to published norms; 97 and 92% of z scores fell within 2 standard deviations of normative means, respectively. The sample averaged faster completion times on dTMT, Part B than published norms, although 98% of z scores were within 2 standard deviations of the normative means. Brief, digitized tests may be useful in populations and testing environments when longer cognitive test batteries are impractical. Future studies should assess the ability of these tests to detect clinically relevant changes following a suspected head injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Saalfield
- Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
| | - Kelsey L. Piersol
- Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
| | - Carrie Esopenko
- Department of Rehabilitation & Movement Sciences, School of Health Professions, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
| | - Marsha E. Bates
- Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
- Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies, Rutgers University – New Brunswick
| | - Scott A. Weismiller
- Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies, Rutgers University – New Brunswick
| | - Kyle Brostrand
- Department of Athletics, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
| | - Sabrina M. Todaro
- Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies, Rutgers University – New Brunswick
| | - Fiona N. Conway
- Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
- Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies, Rutgers University – New Brunswick
| | - Elisabeth A. Wilde
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine and the George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center
| | - Jennifer F. Buckman
- Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
- Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies, Rutgers University – New Brunswick
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Wilmoth K, Brett BL, Emmert NA, Cook CM, Schaffert J, Caze T, Kotsonis T, Cusick M, Solomon G, Resch JE, Cullum CM, Nelson LD, McCrea M. Psychometric Properties of Computerized Cognitive Tools and Standard Neuropsychological Tests Used to Assess Sport Concussion: A Systematic Review. Neuropsychol Rev 2023; 33:675-692. [PMID: 36040610 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-022-09553-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Athletic programs are more frequently turning to computerized cognitive tools in order to increase efficiencies in concussion assessment. However, assessment using a traditional neuropsychological test battery may provide a more comprehensive and individualized evaluation. Our goal was to inform sport clinicians of the best practices for concussion assessment through a systematic literature review describing the psychometric properties of standard neuropsychological tests and computerized tools. We conducted our search in relevant databases including Ovid Medline, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Scopus. Journal articles were included if they evaluated psychometric properties (e.g., reliability, sensitivity) of a cognitive assessment within pure athlete samples (up to 30 days post-injury). Searches yielded 4,758 unique results. Ultimately, 103 articles met inclusion criteria, all of which focused on adolescent or young adult participants. Test-retest reliability estimates ranged from .14 to .93 for computerized tools and .02 to .95 for standard neuropsychological tests, with strongest correlations on processing speed tasks for both modalities, although processing speed tasks were most susceptible to practice effects. Reliability was improved with a 2-factor model (processing speed and memory) and by aggregating multiple baseline exams, yet remained below acceptable limits for some studies. Sensitivity to decreased cognitive performance within 72 h of injury ranged from 45%-93% for computerized tools and 18%-80% for standard neuropsychological test batteries. The method for classifying cognitive decline (normative comparison, reliable change indices, regression-based methods) affected sensitivity estimates. Combining computerized tools and standard neuropsychological tests with the strongest psychometric performance provides the greatest value in clinical assessment. To this end, future studies should evaluate the efficacy of hybrid test batteries comprised of top-performing measures from both modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Wilmoth
- Departments of Psychiatry and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390-9055, USA.
| | - Benjamin L Brett
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Natalie A Emmert
- Department of Neurology, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Carolyn M Cook
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Jeffrey Schaffert
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Todd Caze
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Thomas Kotsonis
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Margaret Cusick
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Gary Solomon
- Player Health and Safety Department, National Football League and Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jacob E Resch
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - C Munro Cullum
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Neurological Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lindsay D Nelson
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Michael McCrea
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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Conway Kleven BD, Chien LC, Labus B, Cross CL, Ritter A, Randall R, Montes A, Bernick C. Longitudinal Changes in Regional Brain Volumes and Cognition of Professional Fighters With Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome. Neurology 2023; 101:e1118-e1126. [PMID: 37380429 PMCID: PMC10513890 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000207594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Due to current limitations in diagnosing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) clinically, traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES) has been proposed as the clinical presentation of suspected CTE. This study aimed to determine whether there was an association between a clinical diagnosis of TES and subsequent temporal decline in cognitive or MRI volumetric measures. METHODS This was a secondary analysis of the Professional Athletes Brain Health Study (PABHS), inclusive of active and retired professional fighters older than 34 years. All athletes were adjudicated as TES positive (TES+) or TES negative (TES-) based on the 2021 clinical criteria. General linear mixed models were used to compare MRI regional brain volumes and cognitive performance between groups. RESULTS A total of 130 fighters met inclusion criteria for consensus conference. Of them, 52 fighters (40%) were adjudicated as TES+. Athletes with a TES+ diagnosis were older and had significantly lower education. Statistically significant interactions and between-group total mean differences were found in all MRI volumetric measurements among the TES+ group compared with those among the TES- group. The rate of volumetric change indicated a significantly greater increase for lateral (estimate = 5,196.65; 95% CI = 2642.65, 7750.66) and inferior lateral ventricles (estimate = 354.28; 95% CI = 159.90, 548.66) and a decrease for the hippocampus (estimate = -385.04, 95% CI = -580.47, -189.62), subcortical gray matter (estimate = -4,641.08; 95% CI = -6783.98, -2498.18), total gray matter (estimate = -26492.00; 95% CI = -50402.00, -2582.32), and posterior corpus callosum (estimate = -147.98; 95% CI = -222.33, -73.62). Likewise, the rate of cognitive decline was significantly greater for reaction time (estimate = 56.31; 95% CI = 26.17, 86.45) and other standardized cognitive scores in the TES+ group. DISCUSSION The 2021 TES criteria clearly distinguishes group differences in the longitudinal presentation of volumetric loss in select brain regions and cognitive decline among professional fighters 35 years and older. This study suggests that a TES diagnosis may be useful in professional sports beyond football, such as boxing and mixed martial arts. These findings further suggest that the application of TES criteria may be valuable clinically in predicting cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke D Conway Kleven
- From the School of Public Health (B.D.C.K., L.-C.C., B.L., C.L.C., A.M.), University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health (A.R., R.R., A.M., C.B.), Las Vegas, NV.
| | - Lung-Chang Chien
- From the School of Public Health (B.D.C.K., L.-C.C., B.L., C.L.C., A.M.), University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health (A.R., R.R., A.M., C.B.), Las Vegas, NV
| | - Brian Labus
- From the School of Public Health (B.D.C.K., L.-C.C., B.L., C.L.C., A.M.), University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health (A.R., R.R., A.M., C.B.), Las Vegas, NV
| | - Chad L Cross
- From the School of Public Health (B.D.C.K., L.-C.C., B.L., C.L.C., A.M.), University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health (A.R., R.R., A.M., C.B.), Las Vegas, NV
| | - Aaron Ritter
- From the School of Public Health (B.D.C.K., L.-C.C., B.L., C.L.C., A.M.), University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health (A.R., R.R., A.M., C.B.), Las Vegas, NV
| | - Rebekah Randall
- From the School of Public Health (B.D.C.K., L.-C.C., B.L., C.L.C., A.M.), University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health (A.R., R.R., A.M., C.B.), Las Vegas, NV
| | - Arturo Montes
- From the School of Public Health (B.D.C.K., L.-C.C., B.L., C.L.C., A.M.), University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health (A.R., R.R., A.M., C.B.), Las Vegas, NV
| | - Charles Bernick
- From the School of Public Health (B.D.C.K., L.-C.C., B.L., C.L.C., A.M.), University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health (A.R., R.R., A.M., C.B.), Las Vegas, NV
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Ritter A, Shan G, Montes A, Randall R, Bernick C. Traumatic encephalopathy syndrome: application of new criteria to a cohort exposed to repetitive head impacts. Br J Sports Med 2023; 57:389-394. [PMID: 36517216 PMCID: PMC10086298 DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-105819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the characteristics of those who fulfil the recent National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke (NINDS) Consensus Diagnostic Criteria for Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome (TES) and test whether they show differences in MRI-based regional brain volumes, cognitive domains, and certain plasma biomarkers. METHODS Professional fighters 35 years of age or older and/or retired were included. Participants were categorised as either having TES (TES+) or not (non-TES). TES+ participants were further subtyped by their cognitive profile. Multiple linear regression models were used to compare MRI-based regional brain volumes, cognitive performance, plasma tau and neurofilament light levels between TES- and TES+ groups. RESULTS 176 participants (110 boxers and 66 MMA) were included in the analysis. 72 (41%)/176 were categorised as having TES, the likelihood of TES increasing with age. TES+ participants tended to be boxers, started fighting at a younger age, had more professional fights and knocked out more frequently. The TES+ group had lower regional brain volumes including both grey and white matter structures. TES+ also had lower scores on simple and choice reaction time, psychomotor speed and Trails A . CONCLUSION The new TES criteria does distinguish a group of fighters with differences in regional brain volumes and reduced cognitive function. Our findings support the use of the NINDS criteria for TES in further research of the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Ritter
- Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Guogen Shan
- Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Arturo Montes
- Medicine, University of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Rebekah Randall
- Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Charles Bernick
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Ross EA, Hines RB, Hoffmann M, Jay K, Antonucci MM. Multi-Modal Neurorehabilitation for Persisting Post-Concussion Symptoms. Neurotrauma Rep 2023; 4:297-306. [PMID: 37187507 PMCID: PMC10181800 DOI: 10.1089/neur.2022.0081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of the chronic sequela that persist after a mild traumatic brain injury has been challenging with limited efficacy. The aim of this work was to report outcomes obtained from persons who met the criteria of persisting post-concussive symptoms (PPCS), utilizing a novel combination of modalities in a structured neurorehabilitation program. This work was designed as a retrospective, pre-post chart review of objective and subjective measures collected from 62 outpatients with PPCS a mean of 2.2 years post-injury, before and after a multi-modal 5-day treatment protocol. The subjective outcome measure was the 27-item modified Graded Symptom Checklist (mGSC). Objective outcome measures were motor speed/reaction time, coordination, cognitive processing, visual acuity, and vestibular function. Interventions included non-invasive neuromodulation, neuromuscular re-education exercises, gaze stabilization exercises, orthoptic exercises, cognitive training, therapeutic exercises, and single/multi-axis rotation therapy. Pre-post differences in measures were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, with effect size determined by the rank-biserial correlation coefficient. Pre-post treatment comparisons for the subjective mGSC overall, combined symptom measures, individual components of the mGSC, and cluster scores significantly improved for all items. Moderate strength relationships were observed for the mGSC composite score, number of symptoms, average symptom score, feeling in a "fog," "don't feel right," irritability, and physical, cognitive, and affective cluster scores. Objective symptom assessment significantly improved for trail making, processing speed, reaction time, visual acuity, and Standardized Assessment of Concussion. Patients suffering from PPCS ∼2 years after injury may have significant benefits with some moderate effect sizes from an intensive, multi-modal neurorehabilitation program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward A. Ross
- Department of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
- Address correspondence to: Edward A. Ross, MD, Department of Medicine, University of Central Florida, 6850 Lake Nona Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32832, USA
| | - Robert B. Hines
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Michael Hoffmann
- Department of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
- Neurology Section, Orlando VA Medical Center, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Kenneth Jay
- Department of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
- Department of Neurology, Carrick Institute, Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA
- Department of Research, Cervello, A/S, Roskilde, Denmark
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Ten-Word List Performance in Healthy Athletes and Athletes at 3-to-5 Days Following Concussion. Clin J Sport Med 2022; 32:e354-e360. [PMID: 34029213 DOI: 10.1097/jsm.0000000000000941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although the word recall component of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) was updated from 5-to-10 words, its clinical utility across athletic populations remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to provide normative data on the SCAT-5 10-word test and examine its discriminative ability between healthy university level athletes and those with sport-related concussion (SRC). DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING University. PARTICIPANTS Three hundred sixty-three (363, M = 220, F = 153) healthy athletes and 49 (M = 30, F = 19) athletes following SRC. INDEPENDENT VARIABLE Healthy athletes measured preseason were compared with athletes following an SRC (median = 4.0 days postinjury). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Ten-word list performance from the SCAT-5. RESULTS There were no significant differences in either immediate ( P = 0.228, Cohen's D = 0.18) or delayed ( P = 0.908, Cohen's D = 0.02) recall tests between athletes with SRC and healthy athletes; the null findings extended to both the male and female subset comparisons. Among healthy athletes, females outperformed males on both immediate (mean difference = 1.0, P < 0.001) and delayed (mean difference = 0.5, P = 0.006) recall tasks. CONCLUSION Concussion does not seem to impact immediate or delayed recall of the 10-word list in the subacute period following injury. Practitioners should be mindful of sex differences and the time point of administration following injury.
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Exploring Vestibular/Ocular and Cognitive Dysfunction as Prognostic Factors for Protracted Recovery in Sports-Related Concussion Patients Aged 8 to 12 Years. Clin J Sport Med 2022; 32:408-414. [PMID: 34516435 DOI: 10.1097/jsm.0000000000000975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the prognostic ability of the vestibular/ocular motor screening (VOMS), King-Devick (K-D) Test, and C3 Logix Trails A and B to identify protracted recovery from sports-related concussion (SRC) in patients aged 8 to 12 years. DESIGN Retrospective cohort analysis. SETTING Specialty pediatric sports concussion clinic. PARTICIPANTS A total of 114 youth athletes aged 8 to 12 years who were diagnosed with an SRC within 7 days of injury. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES A positive screen on the VOMS, K-D, and C3 Logix Trails A and Trails B. Combined positive screens on multiple tests (ie, 2, 3, or all 4 positive screens of 4 possible). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Recovery time in days and protracted recovery (recovery time ≥30-days) were the primary outcomes of interest. RESULTS A positive VOMS screen was associated with 1.31 greater days to SRC recovery ( P = 0.02) than a negative VOMS screen. The K-D and C3 Logix tests were not significantly associated with recovery time, nor were any combinations of tests ( P > 0.05). The VOMS demonstrated moderate prognostic ability to predict normal recovery (negative predictive value = 80.78% [95% CI = 63.73-90.95]). Overall predictive accuracy of normal versus protracted recovery was strongest when a participant screened positive on all 4 tests (Accuracy = 76.32% [95% CI = 67.45-83.78]). CONCLUSIONS The VOMS was associated with overall recovery time and proved to be a useful test to identify those who would experience a normal recovery time. Combining the 4 tests improved the prognostic accuracy of the protocol in predicting protracted versus normal recovery. These findings suggest that combining multiple, varied assessments of cognition and vestibular/ocular functions may better explain factors contributing to protracted recovery.
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Ross JD, Hoch MC, Malvasi SR, Cameron KL, Roach MH. The Relationship Between Human-rated Errors and Tablet-based Postural Sway During the Balance Error Scoring System in Military Cadets. Sports Health 2022; 15:427-432. [PMID: 35658667 PMCID: PMC10170225 DOI: 10.1177/19417381221093566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) is commonly accepted as a valid measure of postural stability. However, reliability values have varied, and subtle changes undetectable with the human eye may exist postinjury. The inertial measurement unit in commercially available tablets has been used to quantify postural sway (instrumented Balance Error Scoring System [iBESS] volume). However, iBESS has not been validated in a military population, and the stability of the tests beyond 1 week is unknown. HYPOTHESIS iBESS volume is capable of objectively measuring postural sway during the traditional BESS. STUDY DESIGN Prospective repeated-measures study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level 3. METHODS Eighty-three cadets (40.96% women; age 20.0 ± 1.44 years; height 68.7 ± 4.1 inches; weight 166.7 ± 30.2 lb) with no history of concussion or lower extremity injury agreed to participate. All participants completed the BESS at baseline and 6 months post baseline. During testing, a tablet equipped with an inertial measurement unit was positioned on the participant's sacrum to capture postural sway. RESULTS Moderate to strong correlations were exhibited between baseline measurements for single-limb (SL)-firm (r = 0.84; P < 0.01), tandem (TAN)-firm (r = 0.85; P < 0.01), double-limb (DL)-foam (r = 0.50; P < 0.01), SL-foam (r = 0.59; P < 0.01), and TAN-foam (r = 0.79; P < 0.01). Balance improved significantly at 6 months for SL-firm human-rated errors (Effect Size [ES] = 0.32) and for SL-firm (ES = 0.38), DL-foam (ES = 0.21), and SL-foam iBESS volume (ES = 0.35). Moderate to strong correlations were exhibited between human-rated and iBESS change scores for SL-firm (r = 0.71; P < 0.01), TAN-firm (r = 0.75; P < 0.01), and TAN-foam (r = 0.71; P < 0.01), and a weak correlation was exhibited for DL-foam (r = 0.29; P < 0.01) and SL-foam (r = 0.40; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Moderate to strong correlations existed between human-rated BESS errors and iBESS volume at baseline and between change scores. In addition, iBESS volume may be more sensitive to balance changes than the human-rated BESS. CLINICAL RELEVANCE This evidence supports the use of iBESS volume as a valid measure of postural stability in military cadets. iBESS volume may provide clinicians with an objective and more sensitive measure of postural stability than the traditional human-rated BESS.
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Chu Y, Knell G, Brayton RP, Burkhart SO, Jiang X, Shams S. Machine learning to predict sports-related concussion recovery using clinical data. Ann Phys Rehabil Med 2022; 65:101626. [PMID: 34986402 DOI: 10.1016/j.rehab.2021.101626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Sport-related concussions (SRCs) are a concern for high school athletes. Understanding factors contributing to SRC recovery time may improve clinical management. However, the complexity of the many clinical measures of concussion data precludes many traditional methods. This study aimed to answer the question, what is the utility of modeling clinical concussion data using machine-learning algorithms for predicting SRC recovery time and protracted recovery? METHODS This was a retrospective case series of participants aged 8 to 18 years with a diagnosis of SRC. A 6-part measure was administered to assess pre-injury risk factors, initial injury severity, and post-concussion symptoms, including the Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) measure, King-Devick Test and C3 Logix Trails Test data. These measures were used to predict recovery time (days from injury to full medical clearance) and binary protracted recovery (recovery time > 21 days) according to several sex-stratified machine-learning models. The ability of the models to discriminate protracted recovery was compared to a human-driven model according to the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS For 293 males (mean age 14.0 years) and 362 females (mean age 13.7 years), the median (interquartile range) time to recover from an SRC was 26 (18-39) and 21 (14-31) days, respectively. Among 9 machine-learning models trained, the gradient boosting on decision-tree algorithms achieved the best performance to predict recovery time and protracted recovery in males and females. The models' performance improved when VOMS data were used in conjunction with the King-Devick Test and C3 Logix Trails Test data. For males and females, the AUC was 0.84 and 0.78 versus 0.74 and 0.73, respectively, for statistical models for predicting protracted recovery. CONCLUSIONS Machine-learning models were able to manage the complexity of the vestibular-ocular motor system data. These results demonstrate the clinical utility of machine-learning models to inform prognostic evaluation for SRC recovery time and protracted recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Chu
- School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gregory Knell
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Dallas, TX, USA; Children's Health and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Dallas, TX, USA; Children's Health Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Plano, TX, USA
| | - Riley P Brayton
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Dallas, TX, USA; Children's Health and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Dallas, TX, USA; Children's Health Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Plano, TX, USA
| | - Scott O Burkhart
- Children's Health Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Plano, TX, USA
| | - Xiaoqian Jiang
- School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shayan Shams
- School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA; Department of Applied Data Science, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, USA.
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Reliability and Minimal Detectable Change for a Smartphone-Based Motor-Cognitive Assessment: Implications for Concussion Management. J Appl Biomech 2021; 37:380-387. [PMID: 34257159 DOI: 10.1123/jab.2020-0391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Our purpose was to investigate the reliability and minimal detectable change characteristics of a smartphone-based assessment of single- and dual-task gait and cognitive performance. Uninjured adolescent athletes (n = 17; mean age = 16.6, SD = 1.3 y; 47% female) completed assessments initially and again 4 weeks later. The authors collected data via an automated smartphone-based application while participants completed a series of tasks under (1) single-task cognitive, (2) single-task gait, and (3) dual-task cognitive-gait conditions. The cognitive task was a series of continuous auditory Stroop cues. Average gait speed was consistent between testing sessions in single-task (0.98, SD = 0.21 vs 0.96, SD = 0.19 m/s; P = .60; r = .89) and dual-task (0.92, SD = 0.22 vs 0.89, SD = 0.22 m/s; P = .37; r = .88) conditions. Response accuracy was moderately consistent between assessments in single-task standing (82.3% accurate, SD = 17.9% vs 84.6% accurate, SD = 20.1%; P = .64; r = .52) and dual-task gait (89.4% accurate, SD = 15.9% vs 85.8% accurate, SD = 20.2%; P = .23; r = .81) conditions. Our results indicate automated motor-cognitive dual-task outcomes obtained within a smartphone-based assessment are consistent across a 1-month period. Further research is required to understand how this assessment performs in the setting of sport-related concussion. Given the relative reliability of values obtained, a smartphone-based evaluation may be considered for use to evaluate changes across time among adolescents, postconcussion.
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Bernick C, Shan G, Bennett L, Alberts J, Cummings J. Assessing Clinical Change in Individuals Exposed to Repetitive Head Impacts: The Repetitive Head Impact Composite Index. Front Neurol 2021; 12:605318. [PMID: 34295295 PMCID: PMC8290321 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.605318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: There is a current lack of any composite measure for the effective tracking and monitoring of clinical change in individuals exposed to repetitive head impacts (RHI). The aim of this study is to create a composite instrument for the purposes of detecting change over time in cognitive and behavioral function in individuals exposed to RHI. Methods: The data to derive the composite instrument came from the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study (PFBHS), a longitudinal study of active and retired professional fighters [boxers and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters] and healthy controls. Participants in the PFBHS underwent assessment on an annual basis that included computerized cognitive testing and behavioral questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to compare active fighters (n = 117) with controls (n = 22), and retired fighters (n = 26) with controls to identify the predictors that could be used to differentiate the groups over time. In a second step, linear discriminant analysis was performed to derive the linear discriminant coefficients for the three groups by using the predictors from the two separate logistic regression models. Results: The composite scale is a weighted linear value of 12 standardized scores consisting of both current and yearly change scores in domains including: processing speed, choice reaction time, semantic fluency, letter fluency, and Barrett Impulsiveness Scale. Because the weighting of values differed between active and retired fighters, two versions emerged. The mean and standard deviation ratio (MSDR) showed that the new index had better sensitivity compared to the individual measures, with the ratio of MSDR of the new index to that of the existing measures of at least 1.84. Conclusion: With the increasing need for tools to follow individuals exposed to RHI and the potential of clinical trials on the horizon for CTE, the RHICI is poised to serve as an initial approach to a composite clinical measure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Bernick
- Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Las Vegas, NV, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Guogen Shan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | - Lauren Bennett
- Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | - Jay Alberts
- Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Jeffrey Cummings
- Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Las Vegas, NV, United States
- Center for Transformative Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, United States
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Churchill NW, Hutchison MG, Graham SJ, Schweizer TA. Insular Connectivity Is Associated With Self-Appraisal of Cognitive Function After a Concussion. Front Neurol 2021; 12:653442. [PMID: 34093401 PMCID: PMC8175663 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.653442] [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: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Concussion is associated with acute cognitive impairments, with declines in processing speed and reaction time being common. In the clinical setting, these issues are identified via symptom assessments and neurocognitive test (NCT) batteries. Practice guidelines recommend integrating both symptoms and NCTs into clinical decision-making, but correlations between these measures are often poor. This suggests that many patients experience difficulties in the self-appraisal of cognitive issues. It is presently unclear what neural mechanisms give rise to appraisal mismatch after a concussion. One promising target is the insula, which regulates aspects of cognition, particularly interoception and self-monitoring. The present study tested the hypothesis that appraisal mismatch is due to altered functional connectivity of the insula to frontal and midline structures, with hypo-connectivity leading to under-reporting of cognitive issues and hyper-connectivity leading to over-reporting. Data were collected from 59 acutely concussed individuals and 136 normative controls, including symptom assessments, NCTs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Analysis of resting-state functional MRI supported the hypothesis, identifying insular networks that were associated with appraisal mismatch in concussed athletes that included frontal, sensorimotor, and cingulate connections. Subsequent analysis of diffusion tensor imaging also determined that symptom over-reporting was associated with reduced fractional anisotropy and increased mean diffusivity of posterior white matter. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of cognitive appraisal mismatch after a concussion. They are of particular interest given the central role of symptom assessments in the diagnosis and clinical management of concussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan W Churchill
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Neuroscience Research Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G Hutchison
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Simon J Graham
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tom A Schweizer
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Neuroscience Research Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine (Neurosurgery), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,The Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) at the University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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16
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Jennings S, Collins MW, Taylor AM. Neuropsychological Assessment of Sport-Related Concussion. Clin Sports Med 2020; 40:81-91. [PMID: 33187615 DOI: 10.1016/j.csm.2020.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Neuropsychological assessment is a key component in a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to assessment of sport-related concussion (SRC). Currently computerized tests are the most commonly used modality of neurocognitive testing and involve both baseline and postinjury assessments. A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment should not only include neurocognitive testing but also incorporate symptom inventories, vestibular-ocular screening, and a psychological evaluation. Neuropsychological assessments are most effective when completed by a Clinical Neuropsychologist, given their specialized training in test interpretation and conceptualization of the psychological, cognitive, behavioral, physiologic, as well as neurologic principals when treating and managing SRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Jennings
- Department of Orthopedics, UPMC Sport Medicine Concussion Program, 3200 South Water Street, Pittsburgh 15203, PA, USA.
| | - Michael W Collins
- Department of Orthopedics, UPMC Sport Medicine Concussion Program, 3200 South Water Street, Pittsburgh 15203, PA, USA
| | - Alex M Taylor
- Brain Injury Center, Boston's Children Center, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Abstract
BACKGROUND In older adults hospitalized with heart failure (HF), cognitive impairment is associated with increased hospital readmission and mortality risk. There is no consensus on an objective, scalable method of cognitive screening in this population. OBJECTIVE The aim of this project was to determine the feasibility, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity of the Processing Speed Test (PST), a test of information processing, attention, and working memory administered on an iPad in older adults hospitalized with HF. METHODS Patients hospitalized with HF (n = 30) and age-, sex-, and education-matched controls (n = 30) participated in the study. To determine test-retest reliability, the PST was administered on an iPad on 2 occasions, separated by 12 to 48 hours. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test was administered at the first testing time point to determine convergent validity. RESULTS Test-retest reliability of the PST was 0.80 and 0.92 in individuals with HF and controls, respectively. Convergent validity was 0.72 and 0.90 for individuals with HF and controls, respectively. Time to complete the PST was similar for both individuals with HF and controls (<5 minutes). CONCLUSION The iPad-based deployment of the PST was a feasible, reliable, and valid cognitive screen for older adults hospitalized with HF. Using a tablet-based self-administered cognitive screen in older adults with HF provides a method of cognitive assessment that is amenable to widespread clinical utilization.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the test-retest correlation of an objective eye-tracking device among uninjured youth athletes. DESIGN Repeated-measures study. SETTING Sports-medicine clinic. PARTICIPANTS Healthy youth athletes (mean age = 14.6 ± 2.2 years; 39% women) completed a brief, automated, and objective eye-tracking assessment. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES Participants completed the eye-tracking assessment at 2 different testing sessions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES During the assessment, participants watched a 220-second video clip while it moved around a computer monitor in a clockwise direction as an eye tracker recorded eye movements. We obtained 13 eye movement outcome variables and assessed correlations between the assessments made at the 2 time points using Spearman's Rho (rs). RESULTS Thirty-one participants completed the eye-tracking evaluation at 2 time points [median = 7 (interquartile range = 6-9) days between tests]. No significant differences in outcomes were found between the 2 testing times. Several eye movement variables demonstrated moderate to moderately high test-retest reliability. Combined eye conjugacy metric (BOX score, rs = 0.529, P = 0.008), the variance of the ratio for both eye movements in the horizontal (rs = 0.497, P = 0.013) and vertical (rs = 0.446; P = 0.029) movement planes along the top/bottom of the computer screen, and the variance of the left and right eye movement along the bottom segment of the computer screen (rs = 0.565; P = 0.004) each demonstrated moderate between-test correlations. CONCLUSIONS Automated and quantitative eye movement and conjugacy metrics provide relatively stable measurements among a group of healthy youth athletes. Thus, their inclusion as a visual tracking metric may be complementary to other visual examination techniques when monitoring concussion recovery across time.
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Miyashita TL, Cote C, Terrone D, Diakogeorgiou E. Detecting changes in postural sway. J Biomech 2020; 107:109868. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.109868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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20
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Nauman EA, Talavage TM, Auerbach PS. Mitigating the Consequences of Subconcussive Head Injuries. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2020; 22:387-407. [PMID: 32348156 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-091219-053447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Subconcussive head injury represents a pathophysiology that spans the expertise of both clinical neurology and biomechanical engineering. From both viewpoints, the terms injury and damage, presented without qualifiers, are synonymously taken to mean a tissue alteration that may be recoverable. For clinicians, concussion is evolving from a purely clinical diagnosis to one that requires objective measurement, to be achieved by biomedical engineers. Subconcussive injury is defined as subclinical pathophysiology in which underlying cellular- or tissue-level damage (here, to the brain) is not severe enough to present readily observable symptoms. Our concern is not whether an individual has a (clinically diagnosed) concussion, but rather, how much accumulative damage an individual can tolerate before they will experience long-term deficit(s) in neurological health. This concern leads us to look for the history of damage-inducing events, while evaluating multiple approaches for avoiding injury through reduction or prevention of the associated mechanically induced damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A Nauman
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA; .,School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Thomas M Talavage
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA; .,School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Paul S Auerbach
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA
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Reliability, Validity and Utility of Inertial Sensor Systems for Postural Control Assessment in Sport Science and Medicine Applications: A Systematic Review. Sports Med 2020; 49:783-818. [PMID: 30903440 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-019-01095-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent advances in mobile sensing and computing technology have provided a means to objectively and unobtrusively quantify postural control. This has resulted in the rapid development and evaluation of a series of wearable inertial sensor-based assessments. However, the validity, reliability and clinical utility of such systems is not fully understood. OBJECTIVES This systematic review aims to synthesise and evaluate studies that have investigated the ability of wearable inertial sensor systems to validly and reliably quantify postural control performance in sports science and medicine applications. METHODS A systematic search strategy utilising the PRISMA guidelines was employed to identify eligible articles through ScienceDirect, Embase and PubMed databases. In total, 47 articles met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated and qualitatively synthesised under two main headings: measurement validity and measurement reliability. Furthermore, studies that investigated the utility of these systems in clinical populations were summarised and discussed. RESULTS After duplicate removal, 4374 articles were identified with the search strategy, with 47 papers included in the final review. In total, 28 studies investigated validity in healthy populations, and 15 studies investigated validity in clinical populations; 13 investigated the measurement reliability of these sensor-based systems. CONCLUSIONS The application of wearable inertial sensors for sports science and medicine postural control applications is an evolving field. To date, research has primarily focused on evaluating the validity and reliability of a heterogeneous set of assessment protocols, in a laboratory environment. While researchers have begun to investigate their utility in clinical use cases such as concussion and musculoskeletal injury, most studies have leveraged small sample sizes, are of low quality and use a variety of descriptive variables, assessment protocols and sensor-mounting locations. Future research should evaluate the clinical utility of these systems in large high-quality prospective cohort studies to establish the role they may play in injury risk identification, diagnosis and management. This systematic review was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews on 10 August 2018 (PROSPERO registration: CRD42018106363): https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=106363 .
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The Relationship Between Fighting Style, Cognition, and Regional Brain Volume in Professional Combatants: A Preliminary Examination Using Brief Neurocognitive Measures. J Head Trauma Rehabil 2019; 35:E280-E287. [PMID: 31834060 DOI: 10.1097/htr.0000000000000540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Repetitive head impacts (RHIs) in combat sports are associated with cognitive decline and brain volume reduction. While fighting style differences between boxers, mixed martial artists (MMAs), and martial artists (MAs) have resulted in a broader spectrum of injury, the effects of RHIs on MAs relative to other fighters have not yet been explored. This study aimed to determine a differential effect of fighting style on cognition and brain. SETTING A large outpatient medical center specializing in neurological care. PARTICIPANTS, DESIGN, AND MAIN MEASURES In total, 40 MAs, 188 boxers, and 279 MMAs were compared on baseline measures of subcortical regional brain volumes, after controlling for total brain volumes, and cognitive performance. RESULTS Significant differences between MAs, MMAs, and boxers were observed in subcortical brain structure volumes and cognitive measures. MMAs and MAs consistently had larger volumes and higher scores than boxers. Fighting style significantly moderated the relationship between the number of professional fights and the volumes of various subcortical brain structures and performance on a measure of processing speed at baseline. CONCLUSIONS Differences in RHIs across fighting styles may be of clinical significance. Exploring changes over time within the MA, boxer, and MMA cohorts may provide insight into longer-term discrepancies in subcortical regional brain volumes and cognitive functioning across fighting styles.
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Howell DR, Brilliant AN, Meehan WP. Tandem Gait Test-Retest Reliability Among Healthy Child and Adolescent Athletes. J Athl Train 2019; 54:1254-1259. [PMID: 31657636 DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-525-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT The tandem gait test is a method for assessing dynamic postural control and part of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool, versions 3 and 5. However, its reliability among child and adolescent athletes has yet to be established. OBJECTIVE To examine the test-retest reliability of the single-task and dual-task tandem gait test among healthy child and adolescent athletes. DESIGN Descriptive laboratory study. SETTING Sports injury-prevention center. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Uninjured and healthy athletes between the ages of 9 and 18 years. INTERVENTION(S) Tandem gait measures repeated 3 times across the period of approximately 1 month. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Participants completed the tandem gait test under single-task and dual-task (ie, while simultaneously executing a cognitive task) conditions. Our primary outcome measure was completion time during the single-task and dual-task conditions. We also assessed cognitive accuracy and response rate while participants completed the dual-task tandem gait test. RESULTS Thirty-two child and adolescent athletes completed the study (mean age = 14.3 ± 2.4 years; females = 16). Single-task tandem gait times were similar across the 3 testing sessions (14.4 ± 4.8, 13.5 ± 4.2, and 13.8 ± 4.8 seconds; P = .45). Dual-task tandem gait times steadily improved across the test timeline (18.6 ± 6.9, 16.6 ± 4.5, and 15.8 ± 4.7 seconds; P = .02). Bivariate correlations indicated moderately high to high agreement from test 1 to test 2 (single-task r = .627; dual-task r = 0.655) and from test 2 to test 3 (single-task r = 0.852; dual-task r = 0.775). Both the single-task (intraclass correlation coefficient; ICC [3,1] = 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.73, 0.93) and dual-task (ICC [3,1] = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.69, 0.92) conditions demonstrated high reliability across testing sessions. CONCLUSIONS Tandem gait outcome measures demonstrated high test-retest reliability in both the single- and dual-task conditions. The overall reliability was within the acceptable range for clinical practice, but improvements across tests suggested a moderate practice effect. Tandem gait represents a reliable, dynamic, postural-control test that requires minimal space, cost, and time.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Howell
- Sports Medicine Center, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora.,Department of Orthopedics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora.,The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, MA
| | - Anna N Brilliant
- The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, MA.,Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics, Boston Children's Hospital, MA
| | - William P Meehan
- The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, MA.,Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics, Boston Children's Hospital, MA.,Departments of Pediatrics and Orthopaedics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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Masterson CJ, Tuttle J, Maerlender A. Confirmatory factor analysis of two computerized neuropsychological test batteries: Immediate post-concussion assessment and cognitive test (ImPACT) and C3 logix. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2019; 41:925-932. [DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2019.1641184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin J Masterson
- Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Julie Tuttle
- Athletic Medicine, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Arthur Maerlender
- Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
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Makwana B, Xu XM. C3Logix assessment of neuropsychological performance in athletes and nonathletes. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-ADULT 2019; 27:490-496. [PMID: 30793975 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2019.1570927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Physical activity (PA) has been shown to enhance physical health, mental health, and cognitive functioning. Adult and older adult research shows that PA positively influences neuropsychological performance and protects against cognitive decline. This study investigated neuropsychological performance in uninjured athletes and nonathletes using an iPad-based neuropsychological battery called C3Logix. Since literature suggests that PA enhances cognitive functioning, athletes may perform better on neurocognitive measures than nonathletes due to athletes' assumed higher level of PA. We hypothesized that collegiate athletes would outperform nonathletes on all cognitive tasks. Ninety-five athletes and 92 nonathletes completed the neurocognitive assessments and results showed that athletes outperformed nonathletes on reaction time tasks, but not in other cognitive domains. The implications of this study included extending the work of previous research using C3Logix and added to our understanding of a possible difference in reaction time between healthy collegiate athletes and nonathletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bindal Makwana
- Department of Psychology, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, USA
| | - Xiaomeng Mona Xu
- Department of Psychology, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, USA
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LINDER SUSANM, OZINGA SARAHJ, KOOP MANDYMILLER, DEY TANUJIT, FIGLER RICHARD, CRUICKSHANK JASON, ALBERTS JAYL. Cleveland Clinic Postural Stability Index Norms for the Balance Error Scoring System. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2018; 50:1998-2006. [DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000001660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Bernstein JPK, Calamia M, Pratt J, Mullenix S. Assessing the effects of concussion using the C3Logix Test Battery: An exploratory study. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-ADULT 2018; 26:275-282. [PMID: 29308917 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2017.1416471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The C3Logix is a computerized concussion assessment tool that measures a wider array of symptoms (i.e., balance and oculomotor functioning) than other computerized batteries. Although the C3Logix has been used increasingly by athletic organizations at all levels of play, its utility within the concussion population has not been extensively examined. The current study aimed to determine whether the C3Logix is sensitive to the effects of concussion. A total of 54 student-athletes enrolled at a large southern university completed the C3Logix at baseline and within days following a suspected concussion (mean = 2.93, SD = 3.14). Dependent-samples t-tests revealed that relative to their baselines, following concussion, athletes both reported significantly greater postconcussive symptoms and performed more poorly on measures of reaction time and computer-measured balance. Decrements in processing speed, visual acuity, and clinician-observed errors on tests of balance also trended toward significance. Results suggest that inclusion of measures of balance and oculomotor functioning in the assessment of concussion may provide additional clinical utility above and beyond domains typically measured by computerized concussion assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P K Bernstein
- a Department of Psychology , Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge , Lousiana , USA
| | - Matthew Calamia
- a Department of Psychology , Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge , Lousiana , USA
| | - Joshua Pratt
- b Department of Athletics , Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge , Lousiana , USA
| | - Shelly Mullenix
- b Department of Athletics , Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge , Lousiana , USA
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