Citation

Rose SC, Yeates KO, Fuerst DR, Ercole PM, Nguyen JT, Pizzimenti NM. J. Head Trauma Rehabil. 2019; 34(2): 87-95.

Affiliation

Division of Child Neurology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (Dr Rose); Department of Psychology, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Dr Yeates); Wayne State University and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Beaumont, Detroit, Michigan (Dr Fuerst); Sansom Consulting, Phoenix, Arizona (Dr Ercole and Mr Nguyen); and MORE Foundation, Phoenix, Arizona (Ms Pizzimenti).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/HTR.0000000000000441

PMID

30320727

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of repetitive subconcussive head impacts with functional outcomes in primary and high school tackle football players. SETTING: Youth football fields and an outpatient sports neurology clinic. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 112 primary school (n = 55, age 9-12 years) and high school (n = 57, age 15-18 years) football players.

DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. MAIN MEASURES: Helmet-based sensors were used to record head impacts during practices and games during the 2016 football season. Impact g-forces were summed to yield a measure of cumulative impact. History of self-reported premorbid medical diagnoses was obtained preseason. Players completed assessments of a variety of outcomes both pre- and postseason: neuropsychological test performance, symptoms, vestibular and ocular-motor screening, balance, parent-completed attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, and self-reported behavioral adjustment.

RESULTS: Average cumulative impact was 3700 (standard deviation = 2700) g-forces for the season and did not differ between age groups (P =.594). Cumulative impact did not predict pre- to postseason change scores on any outcome measures (all P >.05). Instead, younger age group and reported history of premorbid ADHD predicted change scores on several cognitive testing measures and parent-reported ADHD symptoms, while reported history of premorbid anxiety and depression predicted change scores on symptom reporting.

CONCLUSIONS: In youth tackle football, subconcussive head impacts sustained over the course of a single season may not be associated with neurocognitive functional outcomes. The absence of a significant association may reflect the relatively short follow-up interval, and signals the need for studies across multiple seasons.

Language: en