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A Neuroscientific Approach to the Examination of Concussions in Student-Athletes
Published on: December 8, 2014
Tracking neurocognitive performance following concussion in high school athletes
Tracey Covassin1, R J Elbin, Yusuke Nakayama
1Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. covassin@msu.edu
The Physician and Sportsmedicine
|December 15, 2010
Summary
High school athletes may need up to 21 days to recover reaction time after a concussion. This study supports conservative concussion management strategies for young athletes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Concussions are common in high school athletes.
- Previous research has established short-term cognitive deficits post-concussion.
- Extended recovery timelines require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess cognitive performance in high school athletes up to 30 days post-concussion.
- To compare baseline neurocognitive function with post-injury performance.
- To determine recovery trajectories for key cognitive domains.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 2000 high school athletes.
- Neurocognitive testing using Immediate Post Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT).
- Repeated testing at 2, 7, 14, 21, and 30 days post-concussion in 72 concussed athletes.
Main Results:
- Significant impairments in reaction time, verbal memory, and motor processing speed observed post-concussion.
- Reaction time deficits persisted up to 14 days, returning to baseline by 21 days.
- Verbal memory and motor processing speed returned to baseline by 14 days; symptoms resolved by 7 days.
Conclusions:
- High school athletes may require up to 21 days for reaction time to return to baseline post-concussion.
- Findings support conservative management protocols for concussed student-athletes.
- Extended monitoring is crucial for complete cognitive recovery.
