Vestibular, Cognitive, Oculomotor, and Athletic Performance in Eligible Female Collegiate Soccer and Lacrosse Players

Background Due to the nature of their sports, soccer and lacrosse athletes are at risk for repeated head impacts. Repeated head impacts may influence the athletes’ vestibular function, cognitive function, or athletic performance. Purpose Determine if athletes are fully participating in practices and games with vestibular, cognitive, or athletic performance abnormalities . Participants 30 student athletes from Concordia University in St. Paul, MN Tests Performed Instrumented Dynamic Visual Acuity (iDVA) Clinical Dynamic Visual Acuity (cDVA) Trail Making Test A & B (TMT A/B) Near Point Convergence (NPC) Performance Tests: T Test Agility Drill, 40 yard dash (with and without head turns) Results 15/30 participants tested abnormally on an administered test. The TMT A/B and T test agility drill showed no significant difference compared to published norms and between groups (athletes with normal vs. abnormal vestibular tests) The 40 yard dash results showed no significant differences between athletes with normal vs. abnormal vestibular tests. Conclusion Half of the participants demonstrated abnormal vestibular tests yet are still fully participating in their sport. Despite high numbers of abnormal vestibular tests, the presumed dysfunctions did not impact physical performance as measured in this study. Absence of concussion diagnosis does not discount abnormal vestibular, cognitive, or athletic performance. Clinical Relevance to Physical Therapy Profession and Practice More research is necessary to find a method to properly stress the vestibular system during athletically simulated activities in high level athletes. Our results may influence screening and return to play guidelines. Standardized norms for certain vestibular, oculomotor, and cognitive tests need to be adjusted to reflect the ability of high level athletes