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Oculomotor system may adapt to head injuries
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Subconcussive head impacts negatively affect near point of convergence; however, over time, the oculomotor system could adapt to subclinical brain injuries, according to a study.
The prospective case series study measured near point of convergence (NPC) in 12 U.S. varsity high school football players in the preseason, before and after each of six in-season games, and in the postseason. Each subject wore a mouthguard that measured the number and magnitude of head hits, as well as a chest strap heart monitor that recorded heart rate variability and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption.
The mouthguards recorded a total of 8,009 hits, 177,907 g of peak linear acceleration and 16,123,371 rad/s² of peak rotational acceleration during the six games.
NPC values significantly worsened over time but began to normalize mid-season and were back to baseline levels by the postseason.
“In this cohort, the impaired NPC values began to normalize toward the baseline level in the middle of the season while the participants continued to sustain subconcussive head impacts,” the study authors wrote. “The data suggest that oculomotor function has the potential to reflect subclinical brain injury, but at a certain point, it may also adapt to recurring subconcussive head impacts.”
These results show a need for more detailed study of this effect and the impact further findings on this matter can have on contact sport athletes, according to Ann C. McKee, MD, and Michael L. Alosco, PhD, who wrote an invited commentary on the study.
“It is an important preliminary study that will lay the foundation for future clinical and experimental research on oculomotor function in the setting of exposure to repetitive subconcussive head impacts,” they wrote. “The long-term future of athletes who play contact sports and potentially contact sports themselves depends on taking active steps for the detection and management of subconcussive impacts to allow for early intervention.” – by Rebecca L. Forand
Disclosures: Zonner reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the study for all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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Zonner SW, et al. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2018;doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2018.6193.
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