Browsing by Subject "Mild traumatic brain injury"
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Item Eye tracking : diagnostic measure of mild traumatic brain injury(2016-05) Gentilini, Cara Lynn; Marquardt, Thomas P.; Sussman, HarveyAdults with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) experience a variety of memory, pragmatic, social, and cognitive changes that have significant long-term effects. Though the majority of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are mild, there is a lack of objective and reliable diagnostic markers for the assessment of MTBI. This report provides a critical review of eye tracking as a possible diagnostic procedure for the evaluation of MTBI. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to describe the characteristics, classification and assessment of TBI, review methods used to evaluate MTBI, and discuss the emergence of eye tracking as an effective diagnostic tool for the disorder.Item Neck strength and concussion in NCAA division I football(Texas Tech University, 2007-05) Black, Sandra R.; Boros, Rhonda L.; Miller, John; Henry, Judith; Munger Jr., LarryPurpose: Biomechanical analysis has indicated that concussions will occur secondary to linear and or rotational acceleration-deceleration changes of the head, as well as axial compression to the cervical spine. Researchers have revealed the importance of neck strength in force absorption rates with football players, but have failed to report any definitive relation between weak or untrained musculature and concussion. Through proper neck strengthing regimens, football athletes may train neck muscles to absorb potentially damaging changes in momentum associated with mild traumatic brain injury. Methods: Twelve division I football athletes from Texas Tech University, who had sustained at least a grade one concussion in the last three years, were compared to twelve matched non-concussed football players based on height, weight, experience, and player position. Subjects’ weight charts containing six consecutive weeks of work out routines preceding concussion were analyzed. A normalized volume load (NVL) for each workout on the weight training days preceding concussion was compared between groups and individuals. The NVL data were compared between subjects and across weeks using a 2x6 mixed design ANOVA with repeated measures, and .05 was selected as the level of statistical significance. Results: No statistically significant relations between the concussed and non-concussed participants (p>0.05) were observed. Descriptive statistics for the concussed versus non-concussed group mean + SD NVL were: WK1) 15.2+8.7 vs. 13.0+9.1; WK2) 18.8+8.9 vs. 15.9+6.8; WK3) 15.2+9.0 vs. 14.8+5.9; WK4) 15.0+9.3 vs. 13.6+7.5; WK5) 16.8+9.2 vs. 17.9+8.0; and WK6) 18.1+9.1 vs. 18.0+9.1. Week six (WK6) represents the week the concussion occurred. Eight of 12 concussed players were on defense. The concussed group consisted of four defensive backs (DBs), two linebackers, two defensive tackles, one wide receiver, two offensive linemen, and one long snapper. More concussions were observed in upper classmen (i.e., juniors and seniors), as would be expected due to a greater percentage of upper-class first string and starting players. Conclusion: Comparisons of neck musculature training regimes, rather than actual strength measurements, may not be sufficient to identify a significant relation between training and concussion incidence. Future studies should directly measure neck strength, rather than rely on training records. Consistency in training protocols and comparison of concussion incidence between football programs that implement different training routines (e.g. periodization, isometric isolations, and power enhancing strength) should also be investigated. Future research may also measure cervical neck strength throughout the season as well as after concussion to identify any consistent periods of weakness that may correlate with periods of increased concussion incidence.