Objective The purpose of our study was to investigate if concussion history has an effect on sway velocity and BESS scores in Division I football players.

Design Cohort Study

Setting Division I University

Participants 75 Division I football players (age=19.76 ± 1.1, height=72.41” ± 2.19”, weight=222.55 lbs ± 38.17 lbs)

Outcome measures Correlation statistics determined the association between concussion history, sway velocity, and BESS errors. Sway velocity was determined by performing the BESS test on a force plate, and BESS errors were determined by one experienced evaluator. Players performed the six trials of the BESS test: three stances on two surfaces.

Main results There were no statistical associations between concussion history and sway velocity or BESS errors. There were significant and positive correlations between sway velocity and BESS errors, indicating as sway velocity increased so did the number of errors, on the following trials: single leg firm surface (r _s=0.62, p<0.001), tandem stance firm surface (r _s=0.72, p?< 0.001), single leg foam surface (r _s=0.25, p=0.029), tandem stance foam surface (r _s=0.70, p<0.001), and composite scores (r _s=0.68, p<0.001).

Conclusions Concussion history does not appear to have an impact on sway velocity measures or BESS scores. However, there was a significant and positive correlation between sway velocity and BESS errors during four of the trials and the composite scores, supporting the validity of the BESS test.

Competing interests None.