TY - JOUR PY - 2022// TI - The dynamic exertion test for sport-related concussion: a comparison of athletes at return-to-play and healthy controls JO - International journal of sports physiology and performance A1 - Kochick, Victoria A1 - Sinnott, Aaron M. A1 - Eagle, Shawn R. A1 - Bricker, Indira R. A1 - Collins, Michael W. A1 - Mucha, Anne A1 - Connaboy, Christopher A1 - Kontos, Anthony P. SP - ePub EP - ePub VL - ePub IS - ePub N2 - PURPOSE: To describe the Dynamic Exertion Test (EXiT) by comparing physiological, performance, and clinical outcomes between athletes medically cleared following sport-related concussion (SRC) and healthy controls.

METHODS: One hundred four (female = 41, 39.4%) participants (14-21 y of age) including 52 medically cleared for return to play at 21.48 (15.40) days following SRC and 52 healthy athletes completed the EXiT involving (1) 12-minute aerobic component and (2) 18-minute dynamic component including 2 functional movement and 5 change-of-direction (COD) tasks. Physiological (heart rate and blood pressure), clinical (endorsed symptoms and rating of perceived exertion), and performance (COD-task completion time and errors) outcomes were collected throughout EXiT. Participants also completed the Postconcussion Symptom Scale and vestibular/ocular motor screening before EXiT. Independent-samples t tests were used to compare groups on resting heart rate and blood pressure, COD-task completion time, and Mann-Whitney U tests on Postconcussion Symptom Scale, vestibular/ocular motor screening, and EXiT symptoms, rating of perceived exertion, and errors.

RESULTS: COD-task completion time and resting systolic blood pressure and heart rate were similar between groups (P >.05). SRC reported greater rating of perceived exertion during the aerobic component (P <.05) and lower total dizziness (P =.003) and total symptoms (P =.021) during EXiT and had lower near point of convergence distance (P <.001) and total symptoms (P =.007) for vestibular/ocular motor screening than healthy athletes.

CONCLUSION: Physiological, performance, and clinical EXiT outcomes were equivocal between athletes at medical clearance following SRC and healthy controls. The multidomain EXiT may help to inform safe return-to-play decision making post-SRC.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1555-0265 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2021-0258 ID - ref1 ER -