Craniocerebral Trauma
Conditions
Keywords
Brain Concussion, Balance, Locomotion, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Brief summary
Prior research has investigated the effect of repetitive head trauma as it relates to physiological and psychological function. Boxing is one particular sport which predisposes athletes to a large amount of head impacts. We plan to assess the effects of a boxing tournament on balance, neuropsychological, and visual functions.
Detailed description
This is a prospective, repeated measures cohort study, which is able to make within-subject (pre and post boxing tournament) comparisons on measures of physiologic and behavioral function. We plan to enroll boxing athletes who are participating in a boxing tournament. Each individual will be assessed on the following tests: balance (dynamic and static balance), vestibular-ocular motor function, neuropsychological function, and symptoms. Additionally, each boxing match will be video recorded and the total number of head impacts they sustain will be documented. * In order to prospectively assess how a boxing tournament affects balance, neuropsychological, and visual functions from pre-tournament assessments to post-tournament assessments (Specific Aim 1), we plan to test all athletes before competition at the Pan-American games begins (pre-test) and after they have been eliminated from the tournament (post-test). * In order to measure the associations between the number of head blows sustained during a boxing tournament with balance, neuropsychological, visual, and symptom deficits, we will also use a video camera to record each match and count the total number of hits to the head.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Boston Children's Hospital
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Participation in boxing at a pre-specified tournament 2. Medically cleared to participate in the tournament, as determined by the attending medical staff
Exclusion criteria
1. Any pre-existing neurological disorder, including but not limited to stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, any movement disorder, and cerebral palsy. 2. Any currently active psychiatric condition, including specifically major depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. A history of a psychiatric condition but no ongoing psychiatric episode (e.g. not currently undergoing treatment for a major depressive episode) would not be an exclusion. 3. Any unstable medical condition
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Balance Control | 1 week | Pre-tournament and post-tournament assessment of balance |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Neuropsychological function | 1 week | Pre-tournament and post-tournament assessment of neuropsychological function |
| Visual function | 1 week | Pre-tournament and post-tournament assessment of visual function |
Outcome results
None listed