Scheduled for Exercise Physiology and Fitness, Biomechanics and Sports Medicine Posters, Friday, April 4, 2003, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM, Convention Center: Exhibit Hall A


Short and Long-Term Effects of Neuropsychological Human Performance Functioning of College Basketball Athletes With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Pamela J. Hoyes Beehler1, Mark Stovak1 and George V. Kondraske2, (1)Wichita State University, Wichita, KS, (2)University of Texas-Arlington, Arlington, TX

The application of neuropsychological human performance testing to the evaluation of athletes has recently become an area of intense research interest because approximately 10% of all head injuries are caused during athletic competition, and about 10% of all sport-related injuries are head injuries. While most of these injuries are concussions (mild traumatic brain injury—MTBI), participation in many contact sports involve risk of repeated head injury, or second impact syndrome (SIS), which is more dangerous. Research has shown that MTBI and SIS can also occur from participation in non-contact sports such as basketball and soccer. Premature return-to-play following MTBI or SIS increases the risk of permanent neurologic impairment from cumulative head trauma, and even death. However, controversy still exists over the short and long-term effects of MTBI because each athlete responds differently to even the mildest form of a concussion; and, there is no universal agreement on concussion definition. The purpose of this study was to examine neuropsychological human performance functioning of male and female college basketball athletes with varying degrees of MTBI. Baseline neuropsychological assessments were collected from a central processing motor control module (Model BEP I, Human Performance Measurement, Arlington, TX). This module was connected in series to a personal computer. Testing included short-term memory, attention, information processing speed, and reaction/movement speed. Thirty-four college basketball athletes (male=14, female=20) who never received a MTBI (no MTBI), six college basketball athletes (male=4, female=2) who received at least one MTBI at least one year previously (MTBI), and two college basketball athletes (1 male, 1 female) who received a MTBI in-season were examined. Data clearly indicated that no MTBI athletes were superior in simple and choice reaction time, short-term memory, and attention/information processing compared to MTBI athletes. The male who sustained his MTBI in-season (his 7th total), was retested within 24 hours of injury and was within 95 percent of his baseline neuropsychological functioning except for simple reaction time and movement speed. The female who received her MTBI in-season (her 1st total) was retested within 24 hours of injury and had difficulty performing simple and choice reaction time, and attention/information processing compared to baseline. Neuropsychological human performance assessment is a useful clinical tool to determine short and long-term effects of post-injury MTBI and will be further discussed.

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