Can Neurocognitive Function Predict Lower Extremity Injuries in Male Collegiate Athletes?

Sunghe Ha,Sang-Kyoon Park,Hee Seong Jeong,Sae Yong Lee

doi:10.3390/ijerph17239061

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate whether neurocognitive evaluation can confirm the association between neurocognitive level and postural control and to analyze the relationship between neurocognitive level and acute musculoskeletal injury in male non-net sports athletes. Seventy-seven male non-net sports athletes participated in this study. The Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC), Landing Error Scoring System (LESS), Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), and Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) were used for testing; we collected data related to injury history for six months after testing. Pearson’s correlation analysis, logistic regression, and the independent sample t-test were used for statistical analysis. The correlation between SAC and SEBT results was weak to moderate (p < 0.05). Eleven of the seventy-seven participants experienced acute lower limb injuries. SAC, LESS, BESS, and SEBT results have no effect on the occurrence of acute lower extremity injuries (p > 0.05) and were not statistically different between the injured and non-injured groups (p > 0.05). Therefore, using the SAC score alone to determine the risk factor of lower extremity injuries, except in the use of assessment after a concussion, should be cautioned against.

Highlights

The occurrence of concussion among male elite athletes participating in contact sports is reported to be higher than that of women, accounting for approximately 66%–76% of the overall incidence [1,2,3,4].In particular, the incidence of concussion was highest in adolescents and young adults [4]
A positive correlation was observed between the immediate memory score of Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC) and the normalized reach distances of Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) (P and PL of the dominant leg, and PM and P of the nondominant leg, respectively)
This study aims to assess if neurocognitive assessment can identify risk factors of the lower extremity and to analyze the association between the neurocognitive level and the occurrence of acute musculoskeletal injuries in male collegiate athletes

Summary

Introduction

The occurrence of concussion among male elite athletes participating in contact sports is reported to be higher than that of women, accounting for approximately 66%–76% of the overall incidence [1,2,3,4].In particular, the incidence of concussion was highest in adolescents and young adults [4]. The occurrence of concussion among male elite athletes participating in contact sports is reported to be higher than that of women, accounting for approximately 66%–76% of the overall incidence [1,2,3,4]. According to a recent study analyzing the causal relationship between cognition and musculoskeletal injury, musculoskeletal injury may occur at a high level when participating in sports if the level of cognition is low or lowered owing to concussion [7,8,9]. Elite athletes who returned to sports after a concussion showed that the likelihood of acute lower musculoskeletal injury was increased compared with non-injured athletes [10,11]. Various field studies have been reported to reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal injury, but several injuries have still been

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