No Association Between Processing Speed and Risk of Sport-Related Concussion in Youth Soccer.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether slow processing speed is associated with risk of sport-related concussion.

DESIGN

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using computerized neurocognitive assessments (Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing [ImPACT]) from the Massachusetts Concussion Management Coalition. Slow processing speed was defined as 2 SD below the sample mean (n = 131) and fast processing speed as 2 SD above the sample mean (n = 259). We used a binary logistic regression model to determine the odds of sustaining a concussion with our main predictor being processing speed (high or low) adjusted for the effects of age, sex, and prior number of concussions.

SETTING

Massachusetts Concussion Management Coalition, Institutional care.

PARTICIPANTS

Three hundred ninety junior high soccer players ages 10 to 15 with a baseline score for ImPACT.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Processing Speed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Risk of sustaining a concussion.

RESULTS

Those with slow processing speed had a visual motor composite score of ≤19.92, those with fast-processing speed had a score of ≥46.20. Athletes with slow processing speed were younger (13 vs 14 years; P < 0.001) and more likely to be male (57% vs 49%; P = 0.014). After adjusting for the effects of age, sex, and prior concussions, there was no significant difference in the odds of sustaining a concussion between groups (aOR 1.01; 95% CI, 0.99-1.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite previous research showing that slow processing speed is a risk factor for musculoskeletal injuries during sports, our study suggests that processing speed is not associated with the risk of sustaining a concussion among junior high school soccer players.