Immediate and 20-Minute Post-Exercise Performance On Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) and Near Point of Convergence (NPC)

Abstract

To examine VOMS and NPC performance immediately and 20-minutes after a bout of maximal exercise. The Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) and Near Point of Convergence (NPC) have received increased implementation for assessment and management of sport-related concussion. As athletes are often in a state of physical exertion during the immediate or sideline evaluation for concussion, it is imperative to understand the effects of exercise on these two tools. Seventeen, healthy college-aged individuals (20.7 ± 2.3 years) free of any modifiers for performance, completed a pre-test VOMS and NPC, followed by a graded maximal exercise treadmill test. Participants were re-assessed immediately following exercise and again 20-minutes later. Measures consisted of VOMS symptom provocation change scores per item and NPC distance (cm) averaged across 3 trials. A series of non-parametric Friedman tests and follow-up Wilcoxon signed rank tests were conducted to determine the effects between pre-test, immediate-, and 20-min post-exercise. Pre-to immediate post-exercise differences did not exist on any VOMS item, specifically, smooth pursuits (0.12 vs. 0.29, p = 0.18), saccades (horizontal: 0.18 vs. 0.29, p = 0.70; vertical: 0.24 vs. 0.41, p = 0.70), convergence (2.78 cm vs. 3.99 cm, p = 0.27), vestibular ocular reflex (VOR) (horizontal: 0.59 vs. 0.94, p = 0.31; vertical: 0.41 vs. 0.65, p = 0.27), and visual motion sensitivity (VMS) (0.47 vs. 0.94, p = 0.13). No differences were reported between pre- and immediate post-exercise on NPC distance (2.78 vs. 3.99 cm, p = 0.48). The only change from immediate to 20-min post exercise was an improvement in VMS of the VOMS (0.94 vs. 0.29, p = 0.05). No changes occurred between pre- and 20-min post-exercise. VOMS items and NPC distance remained consistent from pre-to immediate and 20-min post exercise, which may further validate their utility as sideline assessment tools. More research is needed to determine if these results extend across graded exercise testing in acute concussion and post-concussion syndrome return-to-activity management.