Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

2023

Abstract

Introduction

Background:

  • Repetitive head impacts (RHIs) are multiple sub-concussive forces that may result from either a direct or indirect impact to the head or body over a period of time that result with no presence of symptoms immediately following the mechanism.
  • Football players are at an increased risk of repeated head injuries.
  • Athletes who have experienced RHIs are hypothesized to have increased negative effects on their academic tolerance, mental health, and cognition compared to their peers.

Purpose:

  • The purpose of this study is to compare the cognition, mental health, and academic tolerance of Division II football players during a non-competitive (2020) and competitive (2021) season.

Methods

Participants:

  • 30 Division II football players from Concordia University, St. Paul with a mean age of 20.5 +/- 1.22 years and a range of 19 - 23.

Tests and Measures:

  • Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) for working memory
  • Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
  • Demographic survey
  • Personal interview

Data Analysis:

  • Qualitative interviews were recorded, transcribed and de-identified then coded and analyzed on NVIVO-12
  • PASAT and CES-D data were both analyzed on SPSS-28, using a Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test

Major Themes

  • Effortful Mental Activity: Cognitive exertion associated with prolonged academic demand.
  • Attention: The ability to sustain focus on a given task.
  • Sensitivity to Stimuli: Increased responsiveness or vulnerability to sensory input.
  • Headaches: A painful sensation localized to the head region.
  • Slow Processing: Increased time required to interpret, process, and respond to information or stimuli.
  • Fatigue: Physical or mental exhaustion due to internal or external sources.
  • Memory: The ability to recall past events or facts learned previously.
  • Sleep Difficulty: Inconsistent or frequently interrupted sleeping habits.

Conclusion

  • While group cognition scores increased between years, some participants consistently scored below the age and education-based normative mean score.
  • Players continue to complain of cognitive changes and worsening depressive symptoms that are consistent with what is expected from an individual suffering from a concussion though players were not actively concussed at the time of measurement.

Clinical Relevance

  • There is a potential for cognition to heal or improve as evidenced by the improvement in group cognitive scores, but the long-term effects are still largely unknown.
  • There may be a neuroprotective effect of exercise, as well as a high learning effect associated with the PASAT that may have impacted results.
  • Depressive symptoms worsened over time which should warrant further study.
  • The potential for academic struggles from RHI for collegiate football players should not be ruled out despite quantitative findings.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.