Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Matthew Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
Curriculum in Human Movement Science, Department of Allied Health Sciences, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2019 Feb;51(2):264-270. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001789.
This study aimed to examine relationships among baseline demographics, symptom severity, computerized neurocognitive outcomes, and balance performance in collegiate athletes.
Collegiate varsity athletes (N = 207, age = 19.3 ± 1.0 yr) participating in an ongoing clinical research program who completed concussion baseline assessments including a demographic questionnaire, a graded symptom checklist, a neurocognitive assessment, and the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) were included in this study. The SOT composite equilibrium score (COMP) and three sensory ratio scores-vestibular (VEST), visual (VIS), and somatosensory (SOM)-were used to describe athletes' overall sensory organization and ability to use input from each sensory system to maintain balance. Separate stepwise multiple linear regression models were performed for each SOT outcome. Total symptom severity level and CNS Vital Signs domain scores served as predictor variables.
Stepwise regression models for COMP (R = 0.18, F4,201 = 11.29, P < 0.001), VEST (R = 0.14, F4,201 = 8.16, P < 0.001), and VIS (R = 0.10, F4,201 = 5.52, P < 0.001) were all significant. Faster reaction times and higher executive function scores were associated with higher COMP and VEST scores in separate models. Those with faster reaction times also had significantly higher VIS scores.
Reaction time and executive function demonstrated significant relationships with SOT balance performance. These cognitive processes may influence athletes' ability to organize and process higher-order information and generate appropriate responses to changes in their environment, with respect to balance and injury risk. Future investigations should consider these relationships after injury, and clinicians should be mindful of this relationship when considering concussion management strategies.
本研究旨在探讨大学生运动员基线人口统计学、症状严重程度、计算机神经认知结果与平衡表现之间的关系。
本研究纳入了参加正在进行的临床研究计划的大学生校队运动员（N=207，年龄=19.3±1.0 岁），他们完成了包括人口统计学问卷、分级症状检查表、神经认知评估和感觉组织测试（SOT）在内的脑震荡基线评估。SOT 综合平衡得分（COMP）和三个感觉比分数-前庭（VEST）、视觉（VIS）和躯体感觉（SOM）-用于描述运动员的整体感觉组织和利用每个感觉系统输入维持平衡的能力。为每个 SOT 结果分别进行逐步多元线性回归模型。总症状严重程度水平和中枢神经系统生命体征域分数作为预测变量。
COMP（R=0.18，F4,201=11.29，P<0.001）、VEST（R=0.14，F4,201=8.16，P<0.001）和 VIS（R=0.10，F4,201=5.52，P<0.001）的逐步回归模型均具有统计学意义。在单独的模型中，更快的反应时间和更高的执行功能分数与更高的 COMP 和 VEST 分数相关。反应时间更快的人 VIS 分数也显著更高。
反应时间和执行功能与 SOT 平衡表现呈显著关系。这些认知过程可能会影响运动员组织和处理更高阶信息的能力，并对环境变化做出适当反应，从而影响平衡和受伤风险。未来的研究应在受伤后考虑这些关系，临床医生在考虑脑震荡管理策略时应注意到这一关系。
