Citation

Johnson PD, Hertel J, Olmsted LC, Denegar CR, Putukian M. Clin. J. Sport. Med. 2002; 12(1): 12-17.

Affiliation

Department of Kinesiology, Athletic Training Research Laboratory, Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, 269 Recreation Building, University Park, PA 16802, U.S.A.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11854583

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify an objective evaluation technique to guide return-to-play decisions following mild brain injury (MBI) using an agility task that incorporates cognitive and motor performance.

DESIGN: Prospective, controlled, repeated measures study. SETTING: Collegiate athletic training facility. PARTICIPANTS: 84 athletes (25 male rugby players, 34 female rugby players, 25 male ice hockey players) from 3 intercollegiate club teams participated. 9 athletes who suffered MBI during their competitive seasons and 9 matched controls completed the entire study protocol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Time to complete an agility task on the Cybex Reactor and a postconcussive symptoms scale score were assessed in all subjects during the preseason. Injured subjects and matched controls were also assessed 1, 3, 5, and 10 days postinjury.

RESULTS: Repeated measures analyses of variance revealed significant differences between injured subjects and controls in postconcussion symptoms, but not agility performance. Post hoc testing revealed that injured subjects reported significantly more postconcussion symptoms on Day 1 after injury.

CONCLUSION: The methods of agility assessment used in this study appear to not be sensitive enough to detect functional impairment following MBI.

Language: en