The relationship of athlete-reported concussion symptoms and objective measures of neurocognitive function and postural control.
OBJECTIVE
Concussed athlete evaluations often include symptoms, balance, and neurocognitive assessments. We sought to identify the relationship between subjective symptom reports and objective clinical measures.


METHODS
A retrospective assessment.


METHODS
A research laboratory.


METHODS
Concussed collegiate-level athletes (N = 32, 19.7 years) evaluated pre- and postinjury (less than 48 hours).


METHODS
Each athlete completed an inventory of concussion-related symptoms, the NeuroCom Sensory Organization Test (SOT), and ImPACT neurocognitive assessment. Spearman correlations between balance symptoms and SOT scores and cognitive symptoms and ImPACT scores were completed.


METHODS
Symptoms related to balance and cognitive deficits, SOT composite balance and visual, vestibular, and somatosensory ratios, and ImPACT output scores.


RESULTS
Significant Spearman correlations were noted between reports of "dizziness" and the SOT composite balance (rs = -0.55) and vestibular ratio (rs = -0.50). Similarly, "balance problems" were significantly correlated with composite balance (rs = -0.52) and the somatosensory (rs = -0.41), visual (rs = -0.39), and vestibular ratios (rs = -0.57). The cognitive symptom of "feeling mentally foggy" and ImPACT variables of reaction time (rs = 0.36) and "difficulty concentrating" and verbal memory score (rs = -0.41) were significantly related. Finally, reports of "difficulty remembering" were significantly related to the verbal memory score (rs = -0.48) and reaction time (rs = 0.36).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate self-report symptoms are associated with athlete deficits in postural control and cognitive function. The moderate relationship between the symptom reports and the objective measures warrants the continued use of all measures. A reduction in the number of symptoms concussed athletes respond to may be justified to reduce redundancy.
Broglio
Steven P
SP
Neurotrauma Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA. broglio@illinois.edu
Sosnoff
Jacob J
JJ
Ferrara
Michael S
MS
D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D004856:Postural Balance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult