title: Sex Differences in Vestibular/Ocular and Neurocognitive Outcomes After Sport-Related Concussion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine sex differences in vestibular and oculomotor symptoms and impairment in athletes with sport-related concussion (SRC). The secondary purpose was to replicate previously reported sex differences in total concussion symptoms, and performance on neurocognitive and balance testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cross-sectional study of consecutively enrolled clinic patients within 21 days of a SRC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specialty Concussion Clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Included male (n = 36) and female (n = 28) athletes ages 9 to 18 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vestibular symptoms and impairment was measured with the Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS). Participants completed the Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT), Post-concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS), and Balance Error Scoring System (BESS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sex differences on clinical measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Females had higher PCSS scores (P = 0.01) and greater VOMS vestibular ocular reflex (VOR) score (P = 0.01) compared with males. There were no sex differences on BESS or ImPACT. Total PCSS scores together with female sex accounted for 45% of the variance in VOR scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest higher VOR scores after SRC in female compared with male athletes. Findings did not extend to other components of the VOMS tool suggesting that sex differences may be specific to certain types of vestibular impairment after SRC. Additional research on the clinical significance of the current findings is needed.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; †Centers for Rehabilitation Services, UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; ‡Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan; §Department of Physical Therapy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and ¶Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
authors.forename: Alicia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sufrinko
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mucha
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Covassin
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Elbin
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kontos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular; D012727:Sex Characteristics