title: Effects of youth football on selected clinical measures of neurologic function: a pilot study.
abstract: We assessed 10 youth football players (13.4 ± 0.7 y) immediately before and after their season to explore the effects of football participation on selected clinical measures of neurologic function. Postseason postural stability in a closed-eye condition was improved compared to preseason (P = .017). Neurocognitive testing with the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) battery revealed that reaction time was significantly faster at postseason (P = .015). There were no significant preseason versus postseason differences in verbal memory (P = .507), visual memory (P = .750), or visual motor speed (P = .087). Oculomotor performance assessed by the King-Devick test was moderately to significantly improved (P = .047-.115). A 12-week season of youth football did not impair the postural stability, neurocognitive function, or oculomotor performance measures of the players evaluated. Though encouraging, continued and more comprehensive investigations of this at-risk population are warranted.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, SD, USA Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, USA Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA thayne.munce@sanfordhealth.org.
authors.forename: Thayne A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Munce
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, SD, USA Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dorman
authors.affiliation: Sanford Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
authors.forename: Tryg O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Odney
authors.affiliation: Methodology and Data Analysis Division, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, SD, USA Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA Sanford Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, SD, USA Department of Family Medicine, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
authors.forename: Verle D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Valentine
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, SD, USA Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, USA Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bergeron
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: balance; neurocognitive; oculomotor; subconcussive