Premorbid Primary Headache and Vestibular and Oculomotor Baseline Assessments in Collegiate Athletes

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of premorbid headache status on vestibular and oculomotor baseline tests in collegiate club athletes.

Retrospective case-control study.

Sport Concussion Laboratory.

Collegiate club athletes with a self-reported premorbid headache history (n = 32, 19.50 ± 1.98 years, and 31% women) and age-sex-sport-matched controls (n = 32, 19.56 ± 1.47 years, and 31% women) without a self-reported headache history were included.

Participants were grouped based on a self-reported headache history at baseline. Controls were randomly matched to self-reported headache participants by age, sex, and sport.

Vestibular/ocular motor screen (VOMS) baseline symptoms, symptom provocation, near point of convergence (NPC) distance, and King-Devick (K-D) test time were compared between groups.

Athletes with a self-reported headache history at baseline are 3.82 times more likely to have abnormal NPC scores (P = 0.032) and 4.76 times more likely to have abnormal K-D test times (P = 0.014) than those without a headache history. There was no difference in VOMS baseline symptoms or symptom provocation between groups (P > 0.05).

Club collegiate athletes with a headache history were more likely to screen as abnormal during a vestibular/ocular motor function assessment than athletes without a history of headaches. Healthcare professionals should screen for pre-existing headache during baseline concussion assessments before test interpretation.

A premorbid headache history at preseason baseline assessment may influence vestibular and oculomotor function, and care should be taken when interpreting these individuals' tests.