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DETERMINING THE APPROPRIATE TIMING OF ADMINISTRATION OF COMPUTERIZED NEUROCOGNITIVE TESTING FOLLOWING MAXIMAL EXERTION- PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS

Abstract

Samantha A. MohlerƗ 1, Cory L. Butts Ɨ 1, Zachary J. Sebghati* 1, Katie L. Stephenson-BrownƗ 1, & R. J. Elbinǂ 1 1Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Computerized neurocognitive testing (CNT) is part of the recommended multi-faceted approach to sport-related concussion assessment. Prior research suggests maximal exertion negatively affects CNT scores. However, this relationship is not clearly defined in the literature nor has a suggested clinical wait time following maximal exertion been proposed. PURPOSE: To identify the appropriate timing of the administration of CNT following maximal exertion in healthy college-aged students. METHODS: A prospective, random cross-over, repeated measures design was used for this study. Eighteen participants (M = 22.4, SD = ± 2.3 years) were administered CNT once a week for four consecutive weeks. During three visits, a VO2 max treadmill test was completed before CNT. Following the VO2 max testing participants were prescribed no rest, 10 minutes, or 20 minutes rest before taking CNT. One of the four visits served as a control (baseline) as individuals did not complete a VO2 max test before taking CNT. All visits were randomly ordered to reduce practice effects. RESULTS: The results from a series of one-way repeated measures ANOVAs revealed significant within-group differences for visual memory (Wilks λ =.45, F [3,15] = 6.01, p =.007, η2 = .55) and total symptoms (Wilks λ =.58, F [3,15] = 3.60, p =.04, η2 = .42). Post-hoc comparisons revealed that immediate (p = .05), ten minutes (p = .01) and twenty minutes (p = .002) were all significantly worse than baseline scores. In addition, there were significantly higher symptom scores at immediate (p = .004), ten minutes (p = .015), and twenty minutes (p = .016) compared to baseline symptoms. There were no significant differences for verbal memory (Wilks λ =.74, F [3,15] = 1.8, p =.199, η2 = .26), visual motor memory (Wilks λ =.70, F [3,15] = 6.01, p =.136, η2 = .30), and reaction time (Wilks λ =.79, F [3,15] = 1.3, p =.310, η2 = .21). CONCLUSION: Sports medicine professionals should wait at least 20 minutes before administering CNT following maximal exertion.

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