title: Prevalence of neurocognitive and balance deficits in collegiate aged football players without clinically diagnosed concussion.
abstract: METHODS
  Prospective cohort.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the prevalence of neurocognitive and balance deficits in collegiate football players 48 hours following competition.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Neurocognitive testing, balance assessments, and subjective report of symptoms are a commonly used test battery in examining athletes when concussion is suspected. Previous literature suggests many concussions go unreported. Little research exists examining the prevalence of neurocognitive or balance deficits in athletes who do not report concussion-like symptoms to a health care provider.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five Division IA collegiate football players participated in this study. Preseason baseline scores using the Balance Error Scoring System, the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing, and the Postconcussion Symptom Scale were compared to posttest results obtained 48 hours following a game. Prevalence of symptoms was analyzed and reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two (71%) of the 45 athletes tested demonstrated at least 1 deficit in either the Postconcussion Symptom Scale, Balance Error Scoring System, or at least 1 composite score of the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing. Nineteen of the 32 subjects demonstrated a change in 2 or more categories of neurocognitive and balance function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a cohort of football players tested 48 hours following their last game of the season, who did not seek medical attention related to a concussion, a significant number demonstrated limitations in neurocognitive and balance performance, suggesting that further research may need to be performed to improve recognition of an athlete's deficits and to improve the ability to assess concussion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Differential diagnosis/symptom prevalence, level 3b.
authors.affiliation: DiSepio Institute for Rural Health and Wellness, Saint Francis University, 108 Franciscan Way, Loretto, PA 15940, USA. imulligan@francis.edu
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mulligan
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boland
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Payette
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome; D004856:Postural Balance; D015995:Prevalence; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult