1. Cognitive and Behavioral Outcomes in Male and Female NCAA Soccer Athletes across Multiple Years: A CARE Consortium Study
- Author
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Jaclyn B, Caccese, Kelsey N, Bryk, Tara, Porfido, Abigail C, Bretzin, Kerry, Peek, Thomas W, Kaminski, Anthony P, Kontos, Sara P D, Chrisman, Margot, Putukian, Thomas A, Buckley, Steven P, Broglio, Thomas W, McAllister, Michael A, McCrea, Paul F, Pasquina, and Carrie, Esopenko
- Subjects
Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation ,Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine changes in neurocognitive, psychosocial, and balance functioning in collegiate male and female soccer players across three consecutive years of baseline testing compared to a control group of non-contact athletes.Generalized estimating equations were used to compare changes in annual, pre-season baseline measures of neurocognitive function, neurobehavioral and psychological symptoms, and postural stability between collegiate soccer players (n = 75; 51 [68%] female soccer players) and non-contact athletes (n = 210; 133 [63%] female non-contact athletes) across three consecutive years.Among all participants, the group-by-time interaction was not significant for any outcome measures. Overall, soccer players reported lower (better) Brief Symptom Inventory 18 Depression (p = 0.004, Exp(B) = 0.36 [95% CI 0.18-0.73]), Global Severity Index (p = 0.006, Exp(B) = 0.53 [95% CI 0.33-0.84]), and Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) Symptom Severity (p0.001, Exp(B) = 0.45 [95% CI 0.22-0.95]) scores than non-contact athletes. No other outcome measures were different between soccer players and non-contact athletes.Among collegiate athletes, soccer players report similar or better psychosocial functioning and symptom scores than non-contact athletes. Importantly, neurocognitive functioning, neurobehavioral and psychological symptoms, and postural stability does not worsen over time in collegiate soccer players relative to their non-contact counterparts. Our findings suggest that despite possible exposure to repetitive head impacts (RHIs), collegiate soccer players do not exhibit changes in observable function and symptoms across multiple seasons.
- Published
- 2022