TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2012//
TI  - Unrecognised ringside concussive injury in amateur boxers
JO  - British journal of sports medicine
A1  - Moriarity, James M.
A1  - Pietrzak, Robert H.
A1  - Kutcher, Jeffrey S.
A1  - Clausen, Margaretha Helen
A1  - McAward, Kevin
A1  - Darby, David G.
SP  - 1011
EP  - 1015
VL  - 46
IS  - 14
N2  - Objectives: Concussion is common in contact sports such as boxing. Diagnosis of concussion depends on symptom report or recognition of clinical features, and true incidence may be underestimated. Persistent morbidity is a possible risk of repeated or unrecognized concussion. This study aimed to evaluate pre- and post-bout cognitive performance in motivated amateur boxers in order to detect objective evidence of unrecognised cognitive impairment suggestive of concussive injury. Methods: The study employed a prospective and observational design. Participants were amateur boxers who won at least one bout in a single elimination competition. Optimal pre-participation performance using a computerized cognitive assessment tool (CCAT, Axon Sports) and no significant deterioration in cognitive performance within 24 h post-bout were required to compete. All boxers were screened for clinical evidence of concussion by a ringside physician. Results: Of approximately 200 competing boxers, 96 were eligible having won at least one of the total 160 bouts. Mean age was 21.3 (SD 1.9) years (range 18.5-29.7). Of these, 17 (10.6%) failed their first post-bout CCAT, with 12 (71%) passing a repeat test. Of the five remaining boxers, there were two boxers (1.3% of bouts) not suspected of a concussion after their bouts, who showed evolving slowing in cognitive performance typical of a concussion. Conclusions: Cognitive impairment, as detected by subtle deterioration in reaction time measures, can occur in amateur boxers post-bout that is not recognized at ringside. Although the vast majority of bouts were conducted safely, unrecognized injury may occur and be detectable using objective computerized cognitive assessment.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0306-3674
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2011-090893
ID  - ref1
ER  -