The effect of high-intensity physical exertion on measures of cervical spine, vestibular/ocular-motor screening, and vestibulo-ocular reflex function in university level collision and combative sport athletes.

To examine how high-intensity physical exertion affects clinical measures of cervical spine (CSp), vestibular/ocular motor screen (VOMS), and vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) function. Case series. Sports Medicine Centre. A total of 37 athletes consented to participate (22 rugby, 15 wrestling; 9 men, 28 women; median age = 19 years [range 17-23 years]). Outcome measures included tests of CSp (cervical flexor endurance, head perturbation test, cervical flexion rotation test and anterolateral strength), VOR (head thrust test and dynamic visual acuity [DVA]), and a quantified version of the VOMS. These metrics were assessed prior to and after completing the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test. Bland-Altman plots and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were utilized to analyze the data using an alpha of p < 0.004. Cervical anterolateral strength (kg) was reduced post-exertion on the left (z = 3.87; p < 0.001), but not on the right between conditions (z = -1.49; p = 0.14). Athletes reported increased dizziness (z = -3.55; p = 0.004) and had reduced DVA following exertion (z = -2.78; p < 0.001). All other metrics were not significantly different following exertion (p > 0.011). Reduced performance on DVA, decreased left-anterolateral strength, and increased dizziness occurred following high-intensity exertion in varsity collision and combative athletes, which has implications for sideline screening for sport-related concussion.

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Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Declaration of competing interest The study was funded through the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine Research Fund. Aside from this, the authors declare they have no financial disclosure, conflicts of interest, or any involvement with any commercial organizations.