Quantifying head impacts and neurocognitive performance in collegiate boxers

ABSTRACT

Head impacts and neurocognition were quantified in 27 intercollegiate male boxers engaged in two, two-minute sparring rounds. Head impacts were measured using Instrumented Boxing Headgear (IBH). Pre and post-sparring neurocognitive performance was compared using two computerized neuropsychological test batteries (CNTs): Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT™) and Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics – Military Battery (ANAM4® MIL). An average of 27.63 ± 17.87 impacts above the 9.6 g IBH threshold were recorded per boxer, with average peak linear acceleration of 23.48 ± 15.20 g and average peak rotational acceleration of 1761.40 ± 1064.34 rad/s². Small, but measurable declines in delayed memory and improvement in response time from pre- to post-bout were noted. Number of impacts and concussion history predicted degraded memory performance. This is a unique quantification of head impacts in collegiate boxing, which were similar in frequency and location, but lower in magnitude as compared to amateur boxing. Improved understanding of impact kinematics may enhance safety in boxing and other contact sports. Subtle post-bout decrements in delayed memory performance and mild improvement in response time reinforce prior research and provide evidence of congruence in our two CNT assessments, which may facilitate comparisons of outcomes across settings utilizing these tests.

KEYWORDS:

• Acceleration
• head impact
• boxing
• concussion
• neuropsychological

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Coach Eddie Weichers, Coach Al Wyle and Athletic Trainer Scott Hughes for their generous support of this work and Michael Hanna, Kelly Rudolph, Simbex and Ms. Elisa Kryskow for assistance with data collection and analysis. We would also like to express our appreciation to COL Karl Friedl (Army, RET) for his support of this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the author(s) and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Army, Air Force or the Department of Defense.

Additional information

Funding

U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Award Number: W81XWH-08-1-0021 | Recipient: Kristin J Heaton, Ph.D. Air Force Surgeon General (US) , Award Number: None | Recipient: Brandon K Doan, Ph.D.