Travis White-Schwoch1, Jennifer Krizman1, Kristi McCracken2, Jamie K Burgess2, Elaine C Thompson1, Trent Nicol1, Cynthia R LaBella2,3, Nina Kraus1,4. 1. Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory (www.brainvolts.northwestern.edu) & Department of Communication Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA. 2. Division of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 3. Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 4. Departments of Neurobiology and Otolaryngology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.
Abstract
Objective: Few studies have tracked neurologic function in youth football players longitudinally. This study aimed to determine whether changes in tests of auditory, vestibular, and/or visual functions are evident after participation in one or two seasons of youth tackle football.Study Design: Prospective cohort study.Subjects and Methods: Before their 2017 and/or 2018 seasons, male tackle football players (ages 7-14 yrs) completed three tests that tend to exhibit acute disruptions following a concussion: (1) the FFR (frequency-following response), aphysiologic test of auditory function, (2) the BESS (Balance Error Scoring System), a test of vestibular function, and (3) the King-Devick, a test of oculomotor function. We planned to repeat these on all subjects at the end of each season. Results: Performance on neurosensory tests was stable, with no changes observed in FFR or King-Devick and a slight improvement observed in BESS performance across each season. Performance was also stable over two years for the subjects who participated both years. Across-season test-retest reliability correlations were high.Conclusions: In the absence of concussion, young athletes' performance on the FFR, King-Devick, and BESS is stable across one or two seasons of youth tackle football.
Objective: Few studies have tracked neurologic function in youth football players longitudinally. This study aimed to determine whether changes in tests of auditory, vestibular, and/or visual functions are evident after participation in one or two seasons of youth tackle football.Study Design: Prospective cohort study.Subjects and Methods: Before their 2017 and/or 2018 seasons, male tackle football players (ages 7-14 yrs) completed three tests that tend to exhibit acute disruptions following a concussion: (1) the FFR (frequency-following response), aphysiologic test of auditory function, (2) the BESS (Balance Error Scoring System), a test of vestibular function, and (3) the King-Devick, a test of oculomotor function. We planned to repeat these on all subjects at the end of each season. Results: Performance on neurosensory tests was stable, with no changes observed in FFR or King-Devick and a slight improvement observed in BESS performance across each season. Performance was also stable over two years for the subjects who participated both years. Across-season test-retest reliability correlations were high.Conclusions: In the absence of concussion, young athletes' performance on the FFR, King-Devick, and BESS is stable across one or two seasons of youth tackle football.
Authors: Patricia R Roby; Kristina B Metzger; Catherine C McDonald; Daniel J Corwin; Colin M Huber; Declan A Patton; Susan S Margulies; Matthew F Grady; Christina L Master; Kristy B Arbogast Journal: Phys Sportsmed Date: 2021-09-21 Impact factor: 2.241
Authors: Virginia T Gallagher; Prianka Murthy; Jane Stocks; Brian Vesci; Danielle Colegrove; Jeffrey Mjaanes; Yufen Chen; Hans Breiter; Cynthia LaBella; Amy A Herrold; James L Reilly Journal: Neurotrauma Rep Date: 2020-11-10