No Association Between Processing Speed and Risk of Sport-Related Concussion in Youth Soccer

Objective: To determine whether slow processing speed is associated with risk of sport-related concussion. Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using computerized neurocognitive assessments (Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing [ImPACT]) from the Massachusetts Concussion Management Coalition. Slow processing speed was defined as 2 SD below the sample mean (n = 131) and fast processing speed as 2 SD above the sample mean (n = 259). We used a binary logistic regression model to determine the odds of sustaining a concussion with our main predictor being processing speed (high or low) adjusted for the effects of age, sex, and prior number of concussions. Setting: Massachusetts Concussion Management Coalition, Institutional care. Participants: Three hundred ninety junior high soccer players ages 10 to 15 with a baseline score for ImPACT. Independent Variables: Processing Speed. Main Outcome Measures: Risk of sustaining a concussion. Results: Those with slow processing speed had a visual motor composite score of ≤19.92, those with fast-processing speed had a score of ≥46.20. Athletes with slow processing speed were younger (13 vs 14 years; P
Source: Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine - Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Original Research Source Type: research