Faculty Collaboration Database

Clinical Reaction-Time Performance Factors in Healthy Collegiate Athletes. J Athl Train 2020 Jun 23;55(6):601-607

Date

04/23/2020

Pubmed ID

32320283

Pubmed Central ID

PMC7319734

DOI

10.4085/1062-6050-164-19

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85087110521 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   10 Citations

Abstract

CONTEXT: In the absence of baseline testing, normative data may be used to interpret postconcussion scores on the clinical reaction-time test (RTclin). However, to provide normative data, we must understand the performance factors associated with baseline testing.

OBJECTIVE: To explore performance factors associated with baseline RTclin from among candidate variables representing demographics, medical and concussion history, self-reported symptoms, sleep, and sport-related features.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

SETTING: Clinical setting (eg, athletic training room).

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2584 National Collegiate Athletic Association student-athletes (n = 1206 females [47%], 1377 males [53%], and 1 unreported (<0.1%); mass = 76.7 ± 18.7 kg; height = 176.7 ± 11.3 cm; age = 19.0 ± 1.3 years) from 3 institutions participated in this study as part of the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Potential performance factors were sex; race; ethnicity; dominant hand; sport type; number of prior concussions; presence of anxiety, learning disability, attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression, or migraine headache; self-reported sleep the night before the test; mass; height; age; total number of symptoms; and total symptom burden at baseline. The primary study outcome measure was mean baseline RTclin.

RESULTS: The overall RTclin was 202.0 ± 25.0 milliseconds. Female sex (parameter estimate [B] = 8.6 milliseconds, P < .001, Cohen d = 0.54 relative to male sex), black or African American race (B = 5.3 milliseconds, P = .001, Cohen d = 0.08 relative to white race), and limited-contact (B = 4.2 milliseconds, P < .001, Cohen d = 0.30 relative to contact) or noncontact (B = 5.9 milliseconds, P < .001, Cohen d = 0.38 relative to contact) sport participation were associated with slower RTclin. Being taller was associated with a faster RTclin, although this association was weak (B = -0.7 milliseconds, P < .001). No other predictors were significant. When adjustments are made for sex and sport type, the following normative data may be considered (mean ± standard deviation): female, noncontact (211.5 ± 25.8 milliseconds), limited contact (212.1 ± 24.3 milliseconds), contact (203.7 ± 21.5 milliseconds); male, noncontact (199.4 ± 26.7 milliseconds), limited contact (196.3 ± 23.9 milliseconds), contact (195.0 ± 23.8 milliseconds).

CONCLUSIONS: Potentially clinically relevant differences existed in RTclin for sex and sport type. These results provide normative data adjusting for these performance factors.

Author List

Caccese JB, Eckner JT, Franco-MacKendrick L, Hazzard JB, Ni M, Broglio SP, McAllister TW, McCrea M, Buckley TA

Author

Michael McCrea PhD Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Athletes
Athletic Injuries
Brain Concussion
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Reaction Time
Sports
Task Performance and Analysis
Time Factors
Young Adult