Vestibular, Spatial Cognition And Mental Fatigue Status Of Female Soccer Players Before A Competitive Season

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine visual-vestibular interaction and the relationship to visuospatial cognition, mental fatigue, and concussion history in female soccer players before the start of a competitive season. METHODS: Twenty-four NCAA Division 1 women’s soccer athletes participated in the study. All players completed medical history including dates and number of prior concussions. Vestibular and visual interaction was assessed using the Dynamic Visual Acuity Test (DVAT) which examines the loss in visual acuity when the head is moving in the yaw plane at 85 deg/sec or more compared to head stationary. Visuospatial cognition was assessed using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and the Ray-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) while current fatigue level was assessed using the Mental Fatigue Scale (MFS). Spearman's correlations examined the correlations between DVAT loss and MFS, SDMT, and ROCF. Comparison of MFS, SDMT score, and ROCF score between groups based based on number of concussions was completed using t-tests. RESULTS: Of the 24 participants (mean age 19.3 ± 1.3), 15 had a prior history of concussion (range 1-7). Mean loss of visual acuity in the pitch plane in logMAR upwards was 0.14 ± 0.08 and downwards was 0.19 ± 0.1, and in the yaw plane was 0.15 ± 0.08 to the right and 0.14 ± 0.1 to the left (normative values for this age group are 0.08 ± 0.17 logMAR). The SDMT score was 59.88 ± 6.7, ROCF score was 29.9 ± 5.4, and MFS score was 6.9 ± 5.8. Spearman’s correlations showed significant relationships between DVAT loss to the right (p=0.04) and mental fatigue (p=0.04). Comparisons of athletes who had sustained 2 or more concussions compared to those with 0-1 showed significant differences in the MFS (p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Greater loss of dynamic visual acuity was seen in female soccer players before the start of a competitive season. Gaze stability deficits are correlated with higher mental fatigue and athletes who had 2 or more concussions had more mental fatigue.