Blink reflex parameters in baseline, active, and head-impact Division I athletes

Abstract

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 1.6–3.8 million concussions occur each year. Research cites that 21% of traumatic brain injury in children/youth results from participation in sports and recreational activities. However, current methods to assess concussion, which includes balance, neurocognitive, and self-report assessments, provide conflicting validity and reliability. Thus, many sports medicine professionals seek more objective measures to assess the severity and outcomes of a concussive event. The purpose of this study was to utilize a novel technology to determine if there were differences in blink reflex parameters among baseline, active, and concussed athletes. Twenty-four Division I football athletes participated in this study. Routine pre-season baseline data were collected on athletes as well as assessments of their blink reflex parameters using a blink reflexometer. Significant differences were found in blink parameters between baseline and active measurements in latency, differential latency, lid velocity, log of time to open, log of number of oscillations, and log of total blink time. In addition, significant differences were found between baseline and post-head impact in latency, differential latency, log of time to open, and log of number of oscillations. In comparing head impact and active play, blink latency decreased with head impact but increased in active play and differential latency and log of number of oscillations increased with head impact but decreased in active play. The results of this study suggest that use of a blink reflexometer provides quantifiable and objective outcomes to complement the concussion assessment protocol for athletes.

Keywords

• concussion
• blink reflex
• blink reflexometer
• athletes