Sex Differences on Vestibular and Ocular Motor Assessment in Youth Athletes.

CONTEXT: The Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) is a newly developed measure that evaluates vestibular and ocular motor symptom provocation after sport-related concussion. The effects of sex on baseline VOMS scores in youth athletes have not been established.

OBJECTIVE

To examine sex differences on baseline VOMS assessment among youth athletes.

RESULTS

No sex differences were demonstrated between male and female youth athletes on individual VOMS items (P range = .07-.98). Female sex was not associated with increased odds for VOMS scores over clinical-cutoff levels (range: odds ratio = 0.64; 95% confidence interval = 0.35, 1.15; P = .13; odds ratio = 0.91; 95% confidence interval = 0.48, 1.71; P = .77).

CONCLUSIONS

No sex differences were present on baseline VOMS scores in youth athletes, nor was sex a risk factor for an abnormal VOMS score. These findings highlight the need for continual baseline and postconcussion assessments using multifaceted assessment strategies.