Document Type

Paper

Abstract

The process of diagnosing a concussion starts long before any hit on the field. At the beginning of each season, athletes are baseline tested using the same Sports Concussion Assessment Test 5 (SCAT5) that is used on the field when injury occurs. How they perform on this baseline test plays a major role in future diagnosis. Thirty-Five male and female subjects (mean years of age 20.8 years ± 1.6) free of concussion diagnosis came in for a total of three separate appointments. At each appointment, a mental health survey, reaction time test, and the cognitive portion of the SCAT 5 were administered. A Pearson correlation on SPSS found significance between immediate memory (IMMED) on the SCAT 5 and participants' performance on the mental health survey (MHST). Significance occurred between the MHST and IMMED, p=0.047 and R2=0.037. In addition, significance between SCAT composite scores and 3 components of the SCAT5; orientation (ORT) p= .018, IMMED p=.001 and R2=0.267, and digits backward (DIGBACK) p=.001. Meaning, immediate memory scores have a significant impact on the individual's SCAT5 composite score. This means that even if all other areas on the SCAT5 are not impacted this is enough to alter their overall score in a way that can cause inaccurate diagnosis. These findings demonstrate the importance of requiring a mental health survey at the same time as the administration of the baseline SCAT5, this may help decrease the amount of possible misdiagnosis due to mental health struggles and its impact on immediate memory.

Department(s)

Human Kinetics and Applied Health Science

Date Accepted/Awarded

2023

Course

Biokinetics Symposium

First Advisor/Reader

Justin Byers

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