Effects of Exercise on Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-Third Edition Performance in Professional Athletes.

BACKGROUND

The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-Third Edition (SCAT3) is currently considered the standard sideline assessment for concussions. In-game exercise, however, may affect SCAT3 performance and the diagnosis of concussions.

PURPOSE

To examine the influence of exercise on SCAT3 performance in professional male athletes.

STUDY DESIGN

Controlled laboratory study.

METHODS

We examined the SCAT3 performance of 82 professional male athletes under 2 conditions: at rest and after exercise.

RESULTS

Athletes reported significantly fewer total symptoms (mean, 1.0 ± 1.5 vs 1.6 ± 2.3 total symptoms, respectively; = .008; Cohen = 0.34), committed significantly fewer errors on the modified Balance Error Scoring System (mean, 3.5 ± 3.5 vs 4.6 ± 4.1 errors, respectively; = .017; = 0.31), and required significantly less time to complete the tandem gait test (mean, 9.5 ± 1.4 vs 9.9 ± 1.7 seconds, respectively; = .02; = 0.30) during the at-rest condition compared with the postexercise condition.

CONCLUSION

The interpretation of in-game (sideline) SCAT3 results should consider the effects of postexercise fatigue levels on an athlete's performance, particularly if preseason baseline data have been collected when the athlete was well rested.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Exercise appears to affect symptom burden and physical abilities, such as balance and tandem gait, more so than the cognitive components of the SCAT3.