Timo Hänninen1, Jari Parkkari2, David R Howell3, Vili Palola4, Arttu Seppänen4, Markku Tuominen5, Grant L Iverson6, Teemu M Luoto7. 1. Tampere Research Centre of Sports Medicine, UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Finland. Electronic address: timo.hanninen@fimnet.fi. 2. Tampere Research Centre of Sports Medicine, UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Finland. 3. Sports Medicine Center, Children's Hospital Colorado, USA; Department of Orthopedics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, USA. 4. Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland. 5. IIHF Medical Committee; Liiga/Finnish Ice Hockey Association; Medisport Inc, Finland. 6. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Spaulding Research Institute, MassGeneral Hospital for Children™ Sport Concussion Program, Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, USA. 7. Department of Neurosurgery, Tampere University Hospital and Tampere University, Finland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine short-term test-retest reliability of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (SCAT5). DESIGN: Longitudinal study. METHODS: Sixty-two professional male ice hockey players (mean age=22.5, SD=3.2) completed a preseason baseline test twice over a two-week interval. Half of the players were tested by the same assessor on both testing sessions. Spearman's correlations (rs) were used to determine linear agreements, and Wilcoxon signed rank tests (sig r) were used to determine mean differences, between testing sessions. RESULTS: Symptoms had high test-retest reliability (Score: rs=0.85, p<0.001, sig r p<0.001; Severity: rs=0.84, p<0.001, sig r p<0.001). The reliability coefficients for the SAC (rs=0.58, p<0.001, sig r: p=0.412), and mBESS (rs=0.40, p=0.001, sig r: p=0.607) were considerably lower than symptoms. More than half (52%) of the athletes reported at least one baseline symptom (Md=1, M=2.2, SD=3.3). The most commonly reported symptoms were fatigue or low energy and neck pain. The broad ranges of SAC total scores (range=28-45, Md=35, M=35.4, SD=4.2) and SAC test-retest change scores (range -7 to +11) were mostly due to variability on the memory performance, tested using 10-item word lists. The number of mBESS single leg stance errors (Md=1, Md 3.2, SD=4.0) was greater than Tandem stance errors (Md=0, Md=2.0, SD=3.6). CONCLUSIONS: The two-week test-retest reliability of the SCAT5 baseline scores varied from moderate to high. However, there was considerable individual variability on the SAC and mBESS scores and most players have notable short-term fluctuation on performance even if uninjured. Recommendations for interpreting change on the SCAT5 are provided.
OBJECTIVES: To examine short-term test-retest reliability of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (SCAT5). DESIGN: Longitudinal study. METHODS: Sixty-two professional male ice hockey players (mean age=22.5, SD=3.2) completed a preseason baseline test twice over a two-week interval. Half of the players were tested by the same assessor on both testing sessions. Spearman's correlations (rs) were used to determine linear agreements, and Wilcoxon signed rank tests (sig r) were used to determine mean differences, between testing sessions. RESULTS: Symptoms had high test-retest reliability (Score: rs=0.85, p<0.001, sig r p<0.001; Severity: rs=0.84, p<0.001, sig r p<0.001). The reliability coefficients for the SAC (rs=0.58, p<0.001, sig r: p=0.412), and mBESS (rs=0.40, p=0.001, sig r: p=0.607) were considerably lower than symptoms. More than half (52%) of the athletes reported at least one baseline symptom (Md=1, M=2.2, SD=3.3). The most commonly reported symptoms were fatigue or low energy and neck pain. The broad ranges of SAC total scores (range=28-45, Md=35, M=35.4, SD=4.2) and SAC test-retest change scores (range -7 to +11) were mostly due to variability on the memory performance, tested using 10-item word lists. The number of mBESS single leg stance errors (Md=1, Md 3.2, SD=4.0) was greater than Tandem stance errors (Md=0, Md=2.0, SD=3.6). CONCLUSIONS: The two-week test-retest reliability of the SCAT5 baseline scores varied from moderate to high. However, there was considerable individual variability on the SAC and mBESS scores and most players have notable short-term fluctuation on performance even if uninjured. Recommendations for interpreting change on the SCAT5 are provided.
Authors: Heather A Shepherd; Cody R van Rassel; Amanda M Black; Robert F Graham; Keith Owen Yeates; Carolyn A Emery; Kathryn J Schneider Journal: Int J Sports Phys Ther Date: 2022-04-01