Athletes in contact sports are exposed to repetitive impacts as an inherent part of sport. There is concern over the accumulative effect; however, much is still unknown regarding their short-term effects. This study investigated impact accumulation and outcomes over three seasons (2015, 2017, 2019) in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision players.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis candidate gene study evaluated the relationship of a past history of concussion with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in nine genes in a small cohort (N = 87) of a nationally ranked Division I football team. Genes and SNPs studied were selected based on their published connection to brain injury and brain development, as well as impulsivity. We used multinomial logistic regression analysis (MLRA) to quantify how well genotype predicted the number of previously diagnosed concussions (three categories: none, one, two or more), while covarying race and number of years participating in football.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis prospective controlled observational cohort study assessed the performance of a novel panel of serum microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers on indicators of concussion, subconcussive impacts, and neurocognitive function in collegiate football players over the playing season. Male collegiate student football athletes participating in a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) were enrolled. There were a total of 53 participants included in the study, 30 non-athlete control subjects and 23 male collegiate student football athletes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe cumulative effect of repetitive subconcussive collisions on the structural and functional integrity of the brain remains largely unknown. Athletes in collision sports, like football, experience a large number of impacts across a single season of play. The majority of these impacts, however, are generally overlooked, and their long-term consequences remain poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObject: Neurapraxia, transient posttraumatic paralysis of the motor and/or sensory tracts in the spinal cord, may be a career-ending event in an athlete. Management, rehabilitation, and return-to-play decisions remain controversial.
Methods: Five elite football players were evaluated after experiencing episodes of neurapraxia.