Non-contact Athletes Research Articles

Cognitive effects of one season of head impacts in a cohort of collegiate contact sport athletes

To determine whether exposure to repetitive head impacts over a single season negatively affects cognitive performance in collegiate contact sport athletes. This is a prospective cohort study at 3 Division I National Collegiate Athletic Association athletic programs. Participants were 214 Division I college varsity football and ice hockey players who wore instrumented helmets that recorded the acceleration-time history of the head following impact, and 45 noncontact sport athletes. All athletes were assessed prior to and shortly after the season with a cognitive screening battery (ImPACT) and a subgroup of athletes also were assessed with 7 measures from a neuropsychological test battery. Few cognitive differences were found between the athlete groups at the preseason or postseason assessments. However, a higher percentage of the contact sport athletes performed more poorly than predicted postseason on a measure of new learning (California Verbal Learning Test) compared to the noncontact athletes (24% vs 3.6%; p < 0.006). On 2 postseason cognitive measures (ImPACT Reaction Time and Trails 4/B), poorer performance was significantly associated with higher scores on several head impact exposure metrics. Repetitive head impacts over the course of a single season may negatively impact learning in some collegiate athletes. Further work is needed to assess whether such effects are short term or persistent.

Clinical correlates to laboratory measures for use in non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury risk prediction algorithm

Background Prospective measures of high knee abduction moment during landing identify female athletes at high risk for non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury. Biomechanical laboratory measurements predict high knee abduction moment landing mechanics with high sensitivity (85%) and specificity (93%). The purpose of this study was to identify correlates to laboratory-based predictors of high knee abduction moment for use in a clinic-based anterior cruciate ligament injury risk prediction algorithm. The hypothesis was that clinically obtainable correlates derived from the highly predictive laboratory-based models would demonstrate high accuracy to determine high knee abduction moment status. Methods Female basketball and soccer players ( N = 744) were tested for anthropometrics, strength and landing biomechanics. Pearson correlation was used to identify clinically feasible correlates and logistic regression to obtain optimal models for high knee abduction moment prediction. Findings Clinical correlates to laboratory-based measures were identified and predicted high knee abduction moment status with 73% sensitivity and 70% specificity. The clinic-based prediction algorithm, including (Odds Ratio: 95% confidence interval) knee valgus motion (1.43:1.30–1.59 cm), knee flexion range of motion (0.98:0.96–1.01°), body mass (1.04:1.02–1.06 kg), tibia length (1.38:1.25–1.52 cm) and quadriceps to hamstring ratio (1.70:1.06–2.70) predicted high knee abduction moment status with C statistic 0.81. Interpretation The combined correlates of increased knee valgus motion, knee flexion range of motion, body mass, tibia length and quadriceps to hamstrings ratio predict high knee abduction moment status in female athletes with high sensitivity and specificity. Clinical Relevance Utilization of clinically obtainable correlates with the prediction algorithm facilitates high non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury risk athletes' entry into appropriate interventions with the greatest potential to prevent injury.

Collegiate Athletes' Perceptions of the Legitimacy of Aggression in Sport

The purpose of the current study was to examine the perception of legitimacy of aggressive acts by male and female contact, noncontact, collision, and intramural athletes at the collegiate level. It was hypothesized that males would perceive aggressive acts as more legitimate than female athletes and collision and contact athletes would perceive aggressive acts as more legitimate than noncontact and intramural athletes. Collegiate varsity and intramural athletes (<i>N</i> = 237) completed a demographic questionnaire and a modified version of the Sport Behavior Inventory (Conroy, Silva, Newcomer, Walker, & Johnson, 2001), which evaluated the perception of legitimacy of aggressive acts. Results revealed that male athletes perceived aggressive acts as more legitimate than female athletes. Additionally, collision sport athletes and noncontact sport athletes perceived aggressive acts as more legitimate than contact sport athletes. No interaction was found between gender and sport type. This research assists in understanding the connection between sport socialization and perceived legitimacy of aggressive acts in sport.

VISUAL EVENT-RELATED P3A FROM PASSIVE TASK IN PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Accumulating research demonstrates that repetitive sub-concussive impacts can alter the structure, function and connectivity of the brain. However, the functional significance of these alterations as well as the independent contribution of concussive and sub-concussive impacts to neurophysiological and neuropsychological health are unclear. Accordingly, we compared the neurophysiological and neuropsychological function of contact athletes with (concussion group) and without (sub-concussion group) a history of concussion, to non-contact athletes. We evaluated event-related brain potentials (ERPs) elicited during an oddball task and performance on a targeted battery of neuropsychological tasks. Athletes in the sub-concussion and concussion groups exhibited similar amplitude reductions in the ERP indices of attentional resource allocation (P3b) and attentional orienting (P3a) relative to non-contact athletes. However, only athletes in the concussion group exhibited reduced amplitude in the ERP index of perceptual attention (N1). Athletes in the sub-concussion and concussion groups also exhibited deficits in memory recall relative to non-contact athletes, but athletes in the concussion group also exhibited significantly more recall errors than athletes in the sub-concussion group. Additionally, only athletes in the concussion group exhibited response delays during the oddball task. The current findings suggest that sub-concussive impacts are associated with alterations in the neurophysiological and neuropsychological indices of essential cognitive functions, albeit to a lesser degree than the combination of sub-concussive and concussive impacts.

Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty in the Senior Athlete

The number of senior athletes is increasing and, in accordance, shoulder injuries are increasing within this population. Shoulder injuries, such as rotator cuff tears, may occur in senior athletes with underlying glenohumeral arthritis. In addition, senior athletes who have chronic rotator cuff tears may progress to rotator cuff tear arthropathy. For senior athletes with symptomatic glenohumeral arthritis associated with rotator cuff tears or painful pseudoparalysis who fail nonoperative treatment, our treatment of choice is reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. In the general population, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty has been proven to be successful in decreasing pain and in improving shoulder motion, strength, and function in patients. For senior athletes, postoperative activity limitations, return to play criteria, and sport-specific rehabilitation programs have not been clearly defined. With increased demands placed on their shoulders and relatively short-term follow-up, it is not yet known whether senior athletes will have increased rates of component dislocation, loosening, or failure after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. This article details our experience with reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in the senior athlete, including patient presentation, preoperative imaging, surgical technique, sport-specific shoulder rehabilitation, and short-term outcomes. After sport-specific rehabilitation programs, noncontact senior athletes are able to return to their sport without limitations by approximately 6 months postoperatively. Short-term outcomes are favorable, with most senior athletes returning to play with no current evidence of increased risk of component dislocation, loosening, or failure.

Arthroscopic Management of Recurrent Glenohumeral Instability

Recurrent glenohumeral instability can be a debilitating condition that affects an athlete’s ability to compete at the highest levels of competition and, in our military population, meet the demands of active military service. Significant advances in the understanding of the natural history of this condition have led to new operative interventions and rehabilitative protocols that aim to return the athlete to their previous level of activity. There has been increased interest in the arthroscopic stabilization of shoulder instability, which is evolving from first-time dislocators to recurrent instability in noncontact and contact athletes as well. A thorough understanding of the pathoanatomy involved in shoulder instability allows us to address all injured structures responsible for recurrent instability including the Bankart tear (reverse Bankart for posterior instability) and loss of capsuloligamentous tension. As our arthroscopic techniques continue to improve, our clinical results will approach that of traditional open techniques with perhaps less perioperative morbidity and loss of motion. We have presented one such arthroscopic technique of a multipleated plication through a single anterior and posterior portal that has served us well in the management of recurrent shoulder instability. At present, the only contra-indication to an arthroscopic procedure is significant bony defects of the humeral head or glenoid, which requires a more extensive intervention.

Arthroscopic Bankart Repair Using Suture Anchors in Athletes

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results in selected high-risk patients who underwent arthroscopic stabilization of shoulders with recurrent anterior instability. Hypothesis Arthroscopic stabilization using suture anchors is useful for athletes younger than 25 years or for contact athletes without a large bone loss of glenohumeral articulation. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Methods The study group comprised 55 patients, with a mean follow-up of 42 months (range, 25-72 months). Thirty-two patients had recurrent dislocations, 14 had recurrent subluxations, and 9 had recurrent subluxations after a single dislocation. Rowe score, range of motion, recurrence, and sports activities were evaluated. Results Mean Rowe score improved from 30.1 to 92.3 points; 45 scores (82%) were excellent, 5 (9%) good, 1 fair (2%), and 4 (7%) poor. Patients had lost a mean of 4° of external rotation in adduction. Four (7%) had recurrence. The recurrence rate in contact athletes (9.5%, 2 of 21) was not statistically different from that in noncontact athletes (6%, 2 of 34). Forty-four (80%) returned at the same levels. The complete return rate in overhead-throwing athletes (68%, 17 of 25) was lower than that in nonoverhead athletes (90%, 27 of 30) (P = .0423). Five patients had unsatisfactory results. Conclusion Arthroscopic stabilization is a reliable procedure in selected high-risk patients.

Chronic traumatic brain injury in professional soccer players.

To determine the presence of chronic traumatic brain injury in professional soccer players. Fifty-three active professional soccer players from several professional Dutch soccer clubs were compared with a control group of 27 elite noncontact sport athletes. All participants underwent neuropsychological examination. The main outcome measures were neuropsychological tests proven to be sensitive to cognitive changes incurred during contact and collision sports. The professional soccer players exhibited impaired performances in memory, planning, and visuoperceptual processing when compared with control subjects. Among professional soccer players, performance on memory, planning, and visuoperceptual tasks were inversely related to the number of concussions incurred in soccer and the frequency of "heading" the ball. Performance on neuropsychological testing also varied according to field position, with forward and defensive players exhibiting more impairment. Participation in professional soccer may affect adversely some aspects of cognitive functioning (i.e., memory, planning, and visuoperceptual processing).

Arthroscopic Bankart Repair

Recurrent instability in athletes may lead to decreased athletic performance and interference with activities of daily living. When a Bankart lesion is created, the probability that instability will recur is high. Open Bankart repairs have been shown to produce greater than 95% good to excellent results but do require extensive dissection and may result in significant loss of external rotation of the shoulder. This loss of external rotation may interfere or prevent the resumption of athletic activities. Arthroscopic Bankart repair offers the hope of re-creating shoulder stability surgically with minimal damage to the surrounding tissues, resulting in little, if any, loss of external rotation. Arthroscopic Bankart repair is demanding and is associated with an increased risk of failure compared with open techniques. If the surgeon remains cognizant of the precise technical details of arthroscopic Bankart repair, greater than 90% good to excellent results should be achieved with arthroscopic shoulder stabilization. In discussing arthroscopic versus open repair with an athlete, however, the surgeon should talk about his or her own results with the procedure to allow an athlete to make an informed decision. The author believes that arthroscopic Bankart repair is appropriate for all overhead athletes requiring as much external rotation of the shoulder as possible, noncontact athletes, athletes who have dislocated three or fewer times, and those who do not have a significant degree of generalized ligamentous laxity. It also may be appropriate for the low-demand patient who dislocates a shoulder in an accident (e.g., a fall) and, after stabilization, is not expected to place significant demands on the shoulder. The author also believes that arthroscopic Bankart repair is not appropriate in patients with generalized ligamentous laxity, in patients with more than three dislocations (unless they are an overhead athlete), in patients who are found to have poor quality tissue at the time of arthroscopy, or in athletes who are perceived to be noncompliant. Open procedures are probably more appropriate in each of these groups of patients.

Violence and High School Sports Participation

This study sought to examine whether athletes are more violent, delinquent, or both than their nonathlete classmates. Survey data from 2,436 high school students indicated no significant differences for violent or delinquent behaviors between athletes and nonathletes. However, analysis of the data by the type of sport indicated noncontact sport athletes were less likely to engage in various violent and delinquent behaviors than were contact sport athletes and nonathletes. These relationships were found for both males and females. Noncontact sports may provide some protective effect with regards to violence and delinquency that contact sports do not.

A comparison of sensation seeking among different groups of athletes and nonathletes

The major purpose of this study was to compare the sensation seeking needs of different groups of athletes and nonathletes of both sexes. Athletes from four male sport teams (lacrosse, rugby, crew and soccer) and five female sport teams (soccer, Volleyball, softball, tennis and golf) from a local university participated in the study. Male and female nonathletes also served as subjects. All subjects were administered the Sensation Seeking Scale V (SSS). A major finding in contrast to Gundersheim's ( International Journal of Sport Psychology, 18, 87–99, 1987) study, was that male athletes scored higher on sensation seeking than male nonathletes. In another departure from previous findings, contact sport athletes (rugby and lacrosse) scored higher on SSS than noncontact male sport athletes (crew and soccer). In other results, female athletes had significantly higher SSS scores than female nonathletes and both groups of males (athletes and nonathletes) exhibited stronger SSS needs than their female counterparts. The discrepancy in findings, reported above, are explained by the different methods of measuring SSS and different groups of athletes involved in the studies.

Influence of sport participation upon sex role orientation of caucasian males and their attitudes toward women

Differences in psychological androgyny and attitudes toward women were examined in male Caucasian intercollegiate contact and noncontact sport athletes and male Caucasian college nonathletes. Contact athletes in the sports of football and wrestling, noncontact athletes in the sports of baseball and track and field, and nonathletes completed the Attitudes Toward Women Scale (ATWS) and the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) to assess egalitarian attitudes toward women and sex role orientation. Results of analyses of variance (ANOVAs) on the ATWS indicate that athletes as a group possessed more conservative, traditional attitudes toward women than did nonathletes, but that no differences existed between contact sport athletes and noncontact sport athletes. Results of ANOVAs and chi-square analyses on the BSRI indicated no differences between groups regarding sex role orientation based upon self-perceptions of masculinity and femininity.

Pain Tolerance and Athletic Participation

Using thermal, gross pressure, and muscle ischemia testing procedures to induce pain, an effort was made to determine the relationship between pain response and athletic participation by measuring the pain threshold and pain tolerance levels of three groups of Ss, i.e., contact athletes, non-contact athletes, and non-athletes. There were no significant differences between groups in pain threshold, but a highly significant difference between groups on pain tolerance, wherein the contact athlete tolerated more pain than the non-contact athlete, who in turn tolerated more pain than the non-athlete. Correlation between pain threshold and pain tolerance was .38 and that between the two measures of pain tolerance, .82.