Citation

Dickson TJ, Waddington GS, Terwiel FA, Elkington L. J. Sci. Med. Sport 2018; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Sports Medicine Australia, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsams.2018.08.013

PMID

30193857

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Head injuries, including concussion, are a concern in many sports. Current validated concussion assessment protocols such are problematic with suggestions that an oculomotor examination, such as the King-Devick (K-D) test, could be included. This research explores the role of the K-D test in snowsport concussion research.

DESIGN: Experienced snowsport participants were recruited through a western Canadian resort (n=75).

METHODS: Participants completed a questionnaire that included their history of prior serious head impacts and were assessed via the computer-based K-D test in English.

RESULTS: Of the 75 participants, 23 (69%) reported at least one previous serious head impact. English was the not primary language for seven participants. Independent sample t-tests revealed: significant differences in the K-D average saccade scores for those who had broken their helmets, with or without a serious head injury (̄x¯=171.23, SD=12.9) and those who had not broken a helmet (̄x¯=186.61, SD=20.18; t (70)=-2.53, p=.014, twotailed) and significant differences in the K-D time for those whose native language is English (̄x¯=47.9, SD=6.3) and those where English was not their first language (̄x¯=53.3, SD=7.4; t(73)=.48, p=.04), but no significant difference for their saccade velocities: English (̄x¯=183.64, SD=20.0) versus those where English is a second or third language (̄x¯=188.44, SD=20.1; t(70)=-.56, p=.576).

CONCLUSIONS: For subjects whose first language is not English, such as in many snowsport resorts, the K-D test may need to be conducted in a person's native language to provide a valid assessment based upon the time to complete the task.

Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Language: en

Keywords

Concussion; Helmets; Skiing; Snowboarding; Visual proprioception