Effect of Concussion on Clinically Measured Reaction Time in 9 NCAA Division I Collegiate Athletes: A Preliminary Study

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effect of concussion on clinically measured reaction time (RTclin) and in comparison to a computerized reaction time measure (RTcomp).DesignProspective, repeated measures observational study.SettingAthletic training clinic at a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I university.ParticipantsData are reported for 9 collegiate athletes with acute concussion who were part of a larger cohort of 209 athletes recruited from the university's football, women's soccer, and wrestling teams before the start of their respective athletic seasons.MethodsBaseline RTclin and RTcomp were measured during preparticipation physical examinations. RTclin measured the time required to catch a suspended vertical shaft by hand closure after its release by the examiner. RTcomp was derived from the simple RT component of the CogState-Sport computerized neurocognitive test battery. Athletes who subsequently sustained a physician-diagnosed concussion underwent repeated RTclin and RTcomp testing within 72 hours of injury. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare baseline and after-injury RTs.Main Outcome MeasurementsAfter-injury changes in RTclin and RTcomp were calculated with respect to each athlete's own preseason baseline value.ResultsAfter-injury RTclin was prolonged in 8 of the 9 athletes with concussions, whereas RTcomp was prolonged in 5 of the 9 athletes with concussions. The mean (standard deviation) RTclin increased from 193 ± 21 ms to 219 ± 31 ms (P = .050), and mean RTcomp increased from 247 ± 75 to 462 ± 120 ms (P = .214).ConclusionsWe concluded that RTclin appears to be sensitive to the known prolongation of RT after concussion and compares favorably with an accepted computerized RT measure. This study supports the potential utility of RTclin as part of a multifaceted concussion assessment battery.