Athletic Injuries, Concussion, Brain
Conditions
Keywords
concussion, subconcussive impacts, brain function, football
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to determine the neurologic and cognitive effects of playing tackle football in grade school and high school. During contact practices and games, players wear a football helmet containing an impact sensor. Before and after each season, players complete neurological testing to measure several different aspects of brain function. Two groups of football players will be in the study: 5th and 6th grade tackle football players from the Brighton Bulldogs Football and Cheer league (about 70 players). Varsity football players from Brighton High School (about 70 players per year). The study begins in July 2016 and will continue for 4 years (through the winter of 2020).
Detailed description
Football players wear a football helmet containing the InSite Impact Response System that measures when, how hard, and where the helmet is hit. Coaches (or athletic trainer) are notified of threshold impacts via a sideline handheld device. Each year pre and post-season, subjects will complete several tests of brain function during a clinic visit. These tests are listed in the secondary outcomes section. Specific Aims: 1. To quantify the cumulative head impact burden during consecutive seasons of youth tackle football and high school football. 2. To detect impairment in neurologic and cognitive function from playing youth tackle football and high school football. 3. To use cumulative head impact burden to predict the development of neurologic and neurocognitive impairment. 4. To compare the effect of head impacts on youth tackle football players verses high school football players.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Riddell, LLC
ElMindA Ltd
Mimic Systems
More Foundation
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
9 Years to 19 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Male football players 9-19 years of age at time of enrollment. * Youth Football: * 5th and 6th grade tackle football players from the Brighton Bulldogs Football and Cheer league. * High School Football: * Varsity Brighton High School football players.
Exclusion criteria
* History of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury. This is defined as loss of consciousness \>30 minutes or amnesia \>24 hours. * Hearing problem preventing completion of the study testing. * Legal blindness, preventing completion of the study testing. * Non-English speaking subjects, preventing completion of the study testing. * Ward of the State.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Impact Monitoring (g force) | The football season runs from early August through late October or November (3-4 months) | Each subject in the study group will be fitted with a football helmet containing the InSite impact response system. Subjects will be monitored for impacts during all contact practices and games. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Neurological physical examination | Occurs pre-season & post season and continues for 4 years | Physician performed neurological examination |
| Cogstate | Occurs pre-season & post-season and continues for 4 years | Brief computerized neurocognitive test |
| Pen and paper neuropsychological tests | Occurs pre-season & post-season and continues for 4 years | Pen and paper tasks that assess memory, attention, and processing |
| Brain Network Activation (BNA) EEG test | Occurs pre-season & post-season and continues for 4 years | evoked-response electroencephalogram |
| Neurological history | Occurs pre-season & post season and continues for 4 years | Determine family and personal neurological history of the subject |
| MimicBalance! | Occurs pre-season & post-season and continues for 4 years | video capture balance test that incorporates several different postures, including BESS postures |
| Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire | Occurs pre-season & post-season and continues for 4 years | Self assessment questionnaire |
| SWAN ADHD Questionnaire | Occurs pre-season & post season and continues for 4 years | Strengths and weaknesses of ADHD symptoms and normal behavior (SWAN) questionnaire completed by parent or legal guardian. |
| Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) test | Occurs pre-season & post-season and continues for 4 years | Assessment of eye movements and associated symptoms of headache, dizziness, nausea, and fogginess |
Countries
United States
Contacts
Primary ContactNatalie M Pizzimenti, M.S.
Outcome results
None listed