A-51 EYE-SYNC Saccade Outcomes and Health/Demographic Factors in CFL Athletes

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Examine the relationship between demographic and health factors, and oculomotor functioning during baseline testing in professional Canadian Football League (CFL) athletes. Methods 428 male athletes participated in baseline concussion testing. Athletes ranged in age from 21 to 40 years (M=26.44, SD=2.87) and reported a history of 0, 1, or 2+ sport-related concussions (SRCs). All athlete participants completed the Head Check questions of demographics and medical history, and the EYE-SYNC saccade test to explore how the presence of a history of concussions, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Learning Disability (LD), age, and post-exertion influenced baseline measures of oculomotor functioning using the EYE-SYNC saccade outcomes of accuracy and precision. Results Correlations revealed no significant relationships between combined vertical and horizontal saccade outcomes and the demographic/health variables (p>05). Independent t-tests indicated no significant differences in mean saccade performance between athletes with and without ADHD and/or LD (p>.05). A three-way multiple analysis of variance, run with age group and four saccade outcomes (LeftAccuracyXY, LeftPrecisionXY, RightAccuracyXY, RightPrecisionXY), showed no main effect of age group on the combined saccade outcomes F(8, 844)=.91, p=.50. Finally, a one-way repeated measures analysis of variance also revealed no significant differences from pre- to post-exertion assessments, F(4, 56)=.41, p=.80. Conclusions The oculomotor functioning of CFL athletes at baseline does not appear to be influenced by a history of concussion, ADHD, LD, age, or physical exertion. This information may help professionals with their clinical decision-making regarding SRC diagnosis.