A systematic review of acute concussion assessment selection in research

ABSTRACT

Background: Several organisations developed guidelines and assessments for aiding in the diagnosis of concussions. The growing number of concussion assessments increases the difficulty for researchers and clinicians to determine the best method of concussion diagnosis.

Purpose: To systematically review the current assessments selected for acute sports-related concussion.

Methods: Academic Search Premier, CINHAL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and SPORTDiscus were searched. English-language, peer-review published studies of acute (<72 h) concussion assessments were included.

Results: A total of 31 studies met inclusion criteria (of 291 evaluated); 27 studies provided sufficient information to be included in the descriptive statistics of the assessments. Six of these assessments were used in at least three studies. Only 12 percent of the population studied was female. The age range for these assessments was 9–67 years, although most participants ranged in age between 18 and 35 years.

Conclusion: There is a need for a ‘gold’ standard concussion assessment to enable consistency across research and clinical outcomes. We found a large discrepancy between the number of males and females assessed, suggesting that future studies are needed to determine if these current assessments identify concussion signs and symptoms unique to females. Further studies are needed to determine which assessments are appropriate and valid for youth athletes.

KEYWORDS:

• Head injury
• research
• athletic training
• pediatric
• concussion
• sports medicine

Acknowledgments

The authors have no acknowledgements to address.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no declarations of interest.

Supplementary Materials

The supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Justin R. Moody

Dr. Justin R. Moody is an assistant professor in the School of Health Professions, Department of Kinesiology, at Samford University. He received his B.S. in Athletic Training from Samford University and his M.Ed. in Biomechanics and Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Neuroscience from Auburn University. His research examines the development consequences of contact and collision sports and sport-related concussion on the brain.

Robyn S. Feiss

Robyn S. Feiss is a Ph.D. candidate in Kinesiology with a concentration in sport psychology at Auburn University. She received a B.S. in Kinesiology from Pennsylvania State University and a M.S. in Sport Psychology from Florida State University. Her research examines relationships between mental and physical health in adolescents, particularly the role of stress in injury among adolescent and college athletes. Additionally, she is interested in the field of sport concussion, focusing on concussion education and the psychological aspects of concussion prevention and recovery.

Melissa M. Pangelinan

Dr. Melissa M. Pangelinan is an assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology at Auburn University. She received her B.S. and M.A. in Kinesiology and her Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science from the University of Maryland. She completed a post-doctoral research fellowship at the Rotman Research Institute (University of Toronto). Her research broadly examines the impact of motor skill and physical activity interventions on brain and physical health in pediatric populations with and without developmental disabilities and acquired neurological conditions.