Abstract Details

Title Ice Hockey Head Impact Kinematics Are Not Associated with Changes in Clinical Concussion Measures

Topic Neuro Trauma, Critical Care, and Sports Neurology

Presentation(s) P2 - Poster Session 2 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 4-050

Objective To examine relationship between head impact kinematics and performance on a multifaceted concussions assessment.

Background

Repetitive head impacts (RHI), independent of concussions, are speculated to be associated with later life neurological impairments. While football has received the majority of the attention, RHIs are commonplace in ice hockey. A multifaceted concussion clinical assessment battery assesses diverse neurological systems in clinically feasible manner.

Design/Methods

Eleven male collegiate ice hockey players (age: 20.3 + 0.8 years, Ht: 1.79 + 0.06m, Wt: 80.9 + 6.6 kg) wore a triaxial accelerometer (Triax Technologies, Norwalk, CT.) for all home games and practices. Participants completed the clinical assessment battery twice: pre-season (PRE) and post-season (POST). The test battery included the Standard Assessment of Concussion (SAC), Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), Trails A and B, Tandem Gait (TG), and Dual Task Tandem Gait (DT-TG). Independent variables were the head impact outcome measures: number of impacts, mean peak linear acceleration (PLA), and mean peak rotational acceleration (PRA). Linear regression analyzed the effects of head impact kinematics on change scores (calculated as positive is improved performance) of clinical measures.

Results Participants experienced 107.6 + 57.8 impacts over the course of the season with mean PLA of 38.9 + 2.5 g’s and PRA of 3.9 + 0.5 krad/sec². There was no relationship between head impact kinematics and SAC (change: 0.7 + 2.0, p=0.067), BESS (change: 4.9 + 10.5 errors, p=0.607), Trails A (change: 9.2 + 7.3 sec, p=0.951), Trails B (change: 13.7 + 12.7 sec, p=0.370), TG (change: 2.0 + 2.4 sec, p=0.986), and DT-TG (change: 3.1 + 2.7 sec, p=0.990).

Conclusions The results of this study suggest that ice hockey related RHI do not adversely affect neurological health on a multifaceted concussion assessment battery.

Authors/Disclosures
Thomas A. Buckley, PhD (University of Delaware) PRESENTER	The institution of Dr. Buckley has received research support from Highmark Bluecross Blue Prints. The institution of Dr. Buckley has received research support from NIH/NINDS. The institution of Dr. Buckley has received research support from StateSpace, Inc.
Katherine Breedlove, PhD (Brigham and Women's Hospital)	No disclosure on file
Melissa S. DiFabio (University of Delaware)	No disclosure on file
Jessie Oldham (Boston Children's Hospital)	No disclosure on file

��ɫ��

��ɫ��