The Role of Age, Sex, Body Mass Index, and Sport Type on the Dynamic Exertion Test in Healthy Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The dynamic exertion test (EXiT) was developed to help inform return to play after sport-related concussion, but some factors may threaten the internal validity of EXiT and affect clinical interpretation.

Objective: To compare age, sex, BMI, and sport types across EXiT physiological [pre-EXiT and post-EXiT percentage of maximum heart rate (HR %max) and blood pressure (BP)], performance (change-of-direction task completion time and committed errors), and clinical [symptoms and rating of perceived exertion (RPE)] outcomes among healthy adolescents and adults.

Study Design: Cross-sectional.

Temporal Differences in Concussion Symptom Factors in Adolescents following Sports-Related Concussion.

Objective: To evaluate temporal differences in concussion symptoms up to 30 days following a sports-related concussion.

Study Design: Adolescent and young adult athletes (n = 782) were separated based on time since injury at presentation as Early (0-7 days; n = 321, age: 15.4 ± 1.

Validation of a Machine Learning Brain Electrical Activity-Based Index to Aid in Diagnosing Concussion Among Athletes.

Importance: An objective, reliable indicator of the presence and severity of concussive brain injury and of the readiness for the return to activity has the potential to reduce concussion-related disability.

Objective: To validate the classification accuracy of a previously derived, machine learning, multimodal, brain electrical activity-based Concussion Index in an independent cohort of athletes with concussion.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This prospective diagnostic cohort study was conducted at 10 clinical sites (ie, US universities and high schools) between February 4, 2017, and March 20, 2019.

Sensitivity and Specificity of On-Field Visible Signs of Concussion in the National Football League.

Background: On-field visible signs (VS) are used to help identify sport-related concussion (SRC) in the National Football League (NFL). However, the predictive utility of a VS checklist for SRC is unknown.

Objective: To report the frequency, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of VS in a cohort of NFL athletes.

Do Initial Symptom Factor Scores Predict Subsequent Impairment Following Concussion?

Objective: Symptom factors present during the first week following concussion may predict subsequent concussion outcomes and recovery duration. We hypothesized that a high loading on cognitive-fatigue-migraine and somatic factors would be predictive of neurocognitive impairment following concussion. We also hypothesized that the affective factor would be related to vestibular symptoms and impairment.

Influence of Test Environment, Age, Sex, and Sport on Baseline Computerized Neurocognitive Test Performance.

Background: Baseline computerized testing is a common component of concussion assessments, and the testing environment has been suggested to influence test performance and validity.

Purpose: To compare concussion baseline computerized neurocognitive test performance and validity among adolescent athletes based on testing environment (group, individual), age group (10-12, 13-15, 16-18 years), sex (male, female), and sport type (collision/combat, contact, noncontact).

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Sex and age differences in depression and baseline sport-related concussion neurocognitive performance and symptoms.

Objective: To examine depression and baseline neurocognitive function and concussion symptoms in male and female high school and college athletes.

Design: Cross sectional.

Setting: Athletes completed testing at a designated computer laboratory at high schools and colleges.

Exploring differences in computerized neurocognitive concussion testing between African American and White athletes.

The purpose of the current study was to explore potential differences in pre- and post-concussion performance on a computerized neurocognitive concussion test between African American and White high-school and collegiate student-athletes. A prospective case-control design was used to compare baseline and 2- and 7-day post-concussion computerized neurocognitive performance and symptoms between 48 White and 48 African American athletes matched for age, gender, and concussion history. The Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment Cognitive Test (ImPACT) version 2.

The cognitive effects and decrements following concussion.

Sports-related concussion is an injury that continues to receive attention from both the popular media and sports medicine community. The many different symptom presentations and cognitive decrements that follow concussions, have made this injury difficult to detect and manage. Furthermore, concussed athletes should not always be entrusted to appropriately self-report their concussion symptoms; therefore the burden falls on the clinician and coach.

Immediate post-concussion assessment and cognitive testing (ImPACT) practices of sports medicine professionals.

Context: Computerized neurocognitive testing is becoming popular among clinicians evaluating sport-related concussions across all levels of sport. Baseline neurocognitive testing has been recommended to provide more accurate representation of the preconcussion cognitive status of individual athletes. However, little is known about the use of baseline neurocognitive testing in concussion assessment and management.