Abstract
Objective: To examine the relationship between video-identified onfield motor incoordination, the acute assessment of concussion, and recovery time during three seasons of National Rugby League (NRL) play.Methods: Blows to the head (“head impact events”) were recorded by sideline video operators and medical staff. Any player with a suspected concussion underwent a Head Injury Assessment in which he was taken off the field and medically evaluated, including the administration of the Sports Concussion Assessment Tool, 5th Edition (SCAT5). Video footage was later examined to determine the presence or absence of onfield motor incoordination following the head impact event.Results: Motor incoordination was identified in 100/1,706 head impact events (5.9%); 65 of the 100 instances of motor incoordination (65.0%) were ultimately medically diagnosed with a concussion. In 646 athletes for whom SCAT5 data were available, those with motor incoordination were more likely to report both dizziness and balance problems than those without motor incoordination, but there were no group differences on an objective balance test. Additionally, there was no relationship between presence/absence of motor incoordination and number of games missed or time to medical clearance for match play.Conclusion: In NRL players, motor incoordination is a readily observable onfield sign that is strongly associated with a medical diagnosis of concussion and with self-reported dizziness/balance problems. However, onfield motor incoordination is not associated with objective balance performance and it is not predictive of time to recover following concussion.
Highlights
Motor incoordination following a sport-related concussion is visualized as difficulty standing and walking
Many professional sporting leagues such as the National Football League [1, 2], National Hockey League [2], Australian Football League [2], Cricket Australia [2], professional rugby union [3], and the National Rugby League (NRL) [2] have implemented video surveillance to help with the identification of concussions [2, 4], with trained spotters in the arena, and with spotters having access to multiple camera angles and replay capabilities
Of the total 100 instances of onfield motor incoordination observed on video, 65 (65.0%) were associated with a concussion diagnosed by medical personnel
Summary
Motor incoordination following a sport-related concussion is visualized as difficulty standing and walking. Because motor incoordination often can be plainly seen on the field, from the sideline, from the stands, and on television, it is a useful visual sign of a possible concussive injury. Motor incoordination is included in the international consensus definition of video signs of concussion [4]. A single observer watched 210 games on video from the 2014 National Rugby League (NRL) season and coded possible video signs of concussion associated with 127,062 tackles [5]. Of those with observed motor incoordination, more than half were medically diagnosed as having sustained a concussion
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
