A Follow-Up Study on the Effects of Football Scrimmages on Blink Reflex Parameters in Division I Athletes

Abstract

The objective was to conduct a follow-up study to access the effects of football scrimmages on blink reflex parameters using the Eyestat. Eyestat is a noninvasive diagnostic tool measuring changes in blink reflex parameters. Prior research cited significant differences in various blink reflex parameters between active play, concussion, and baseline; however, the number of subjects for the active play population was small and within a football practice versus a football scrimmage. Fifty-eight division I male football players, between the ages of 18 and 22 years, participated in multiple sessions during a 3 week period of football scrimmages and a spring game. In addition, a subgroup of these subjects (N = 20) provided a minimal of 3 or more scans throughout the study. During various points of play, subjects completed the blink test and had heart rates assessed. For the blink test, subjects placed their face against the apparatus, which directed a puff of air to the corner of the subject's eye to stimulate the blink. Five puffs were administered in a random fashion over a 20-second period while videography captured and recorded the blink. The results of the study cited significant differences in heart rates above 55% of predicted heart rate maximum in excursions only (p = 0.00), while significant differences were found in under the threshold (p = 0.05) and excursions (p = 0.00) in heart rates less than 55% of maximum heart rate. In those athletes (N = 20) where 3 scans were taken, there were no significant differences within subjects in any of the blink reflex parameters. Future studies should continue to evaluate the timing of post exercise visual tracking assessments within healthy populations to determine the effects on ocular changes as eye-tracking devices are becoming increasingly popular to assess neurological health.