Article Text
Abstract
Background Combining multiple methods in assessing Sports-Related Concussion (SRC) is considered beneficial, but examining the relevance of each approach and determining an effective combination remains a research challenge. Objective eye movement assessment is deemed valuable to the evaluation of SRC. However, its correlation with the Sports Concussion Assessment Tool 5th edition (SCAT5), the most standardized concussion assessment method, is unknown and needs to be clarified.
Objective To determine the correlation between eye movements and various SCAT5 measurements.
Design A cross-sectional study on professional soccer players
Setting One hundred male football players aged 18 and older, affiliated with one of the three J-League teams, were eligible for inclusion. Major exclusion criteria included psychiatric disorders, autism spectrum disorder diagnoses, and the observation of neurological abnormalities in SCAT5.
Assessment The study occurred in January 2022 and 2023 during their baseline/pre-season phase. SCAT5 evaluations were conducted alongside eight eye-tracking tests using NeuroFlex®, which encompassed Smooth Pursuit (SPEM head-free and fixed), Active-Visual Vestibular Ocular Reflex (AVVOR horizontal and vertical), Saccade, Anti-saccade, Optokinetic Nystagmus, and Spontaneous Nystagmus. These protocols generated 34 different metrics (e.g., degree of vergence, vergence Standard Deviation (STD), and Error). JMP Pro 16 was used with Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient for checking correlations.
Main Outcome Ocular motor metrics and SCAT5 measurements.
Results Ninety-four players (including 26 with concussions) were included, with six exclusions (two psychiatric disorders and four neurological abnormalities).
Although there were significant differences in correlations among the 15 eye-tracking metrics/SCAT5 items combinations (e.g., vergence STD in SPEM head fixed vs. orientation, latency in Saccade vs. concentration ), these 15 combinations’ correlation coefficients were less than 0.3.
Conclusions Our study found a poor association between SCAT5 and eye movements. Combining these two could lead to a more accurate SRC assessment.