Adam Horvath

Mrs. Walters

Sports Medicine Period 6

22 February 2019

AHHHH My Head

PURPOSE: To understand how different parts of the brain function through performing

neuropsychological tests. To explore the relationship between sports participation and brain

function

BACKGROUND: Baseline testing is used to test athletes for a concussion. It sets a base score of

what AT’s can compare to. This helps to realize when a concussion has healed fully and activity

can be resumed. This is essential so that athletes will not be rushed back.

HYPOTHESIS: Football players and those who take part in contact sports would have lower

scores due to trauma to their heads

PROCEDURE:

1. SCAT 5 Exam: Follow instructions on the handout.

2. Wechsler Digit Span – WDT

A. Have the athlete repeat numbers given in a reverse order. Failure to complete first attempt,

athlete should try 2nd attempt. Test is complete when 2 attempts at the same amount of number

sequences is failed. Score is last correct, not number sequences. Ex: if they missed both attempts

at 5 numbers, the score is 4.

3. Trial Making A & B Test

A. Trail A: Place your pen and pencil on the Letter A. Without lifting your writing

utensil, CONNECT THE LETTERS FROM A to Z as quickly as possible. Record your time in

seconds.

b. Trail B: Place your pen or pencil on the Letter A. Without lifting your writing

utensil, ALTERNATE CONNECTING LETTERS AND NUMBERS. EX: A, 1, B, 2, C, 3

and

so on. Do this as quickly as possible. Record your time in seconds.

•In both tests, if the pen or pencil comes off the paper, the test MUST be redone.

4.Stroop Color/ Word Test – Time and Error recorded in seconds

a. Trial 1: Athlete reads the words STARTING with the LEFT column to right column.

The examiner should make a MARK ON THE PAPER FOR EACH INCORRECT

ANSWER and record the finishing time in seconds.

b.Trial 2: Athlete says the COLOR OF THE WORDS ARE PRINTED IN. Athlete STARTS with

the column on the LEFT to RIGHT. The examiner should make a MARK ON THE PAPER FOR

EACH INCORRECT ANSWERS and record the finishing time.

DATA:
SPORT # SCAT W T TRAIL ST ST
of 5 D R B R R
athletes T A O O
I O O
L P P
A C W
O O
L R
O D
R T
T
E
E

FOOTBALL 3 5 1 134, 0 3 9
64,42, , 0 132, , 3 , 7
68 8 7, 145 0 5 2 ,
, 6 , , , 1
4 2, 1 4 1 1
6 1 4
8 , ,
3 1
6 5
1

BASKETBALL 4 3 1 5
47,56, , 6 214,209 0 2 , 1
61,27 4 4, ,89,186 , 6 2 ,
, 1 1 , , 7
5 4 , 2 0 7
, 5, 0 7 , ,
5 1 , , 5 6
2 2 3 5
2, 1 ,
1 , 6
8 2 6
0 5
WATER POLO 1 65 6 132 3 1 1
7 0 4 1
4 6

TRACK/X-COUN 4 42, 4 2
TRY 44, 5 5, 132,142 1 1 , 1
56, 48 , 5, ,134, , , 0 1
5 5, 218 0 3 , 4
, 8 , 6 3 ,
5 0 , , 1
, , 3 2 2
8 0 6 0
, ,
3 9
2 7
,
1
4
4

LAX 2 34, 36 6 3 29,59 1 3 4 7

, 4, , 4 , 3
9 3 0 , 1 ,
6 3 5
0 7

BASEBALL/SOF 1 46 6 88 3 1 7
TBALL 2 0 2 8
0
0

SOCCER 1 56 68 3 0
5 1 0 6 1
4 2
2 0

GOLF 1 52 4 53 2 2 7
2 0 8 6
0
2
CHEER/GYMAN 3 56, 5 71, 58, 3 0
STICS/DANCE 48, 62 , 120 1 0 1 , 6
4 6 , , 1 1
, 5 0 3 , ,
3 , , 8 1 7
1 1 , 0
1 2 ,
2 6 8
, 6
1
7
6

NON-PARTICIP 3 106, 75, 48, 0 4 1

ANTS 59, 62 7 145 2 , 7 , 6
, 1 0 , 0 6
4 2 , 2 , ,
, , 0 6 0 5
6 1 , 1
2 2 ,
2 8 5
, 2
2
5
7

TOTAL 23 1237 2007 7

1 3
2 5
1 4
3

AVERAGE 53.8 87.3 .

5 1 3
. 5 0
3 4 4
ANALYSIS QUESTIONS:

1. Scat 3 test memory and uses cognitive reasoning. WDT test is also having to do with

Memory. Trail A and B are visuals scanning and process information very quickly. Also has to

do with keep your attention. The color test tested how fast we can relay words and process

words. The test also helped with reading skills.

2. My partner is male his name is Boyfriend he is 18. He participated in football and that’s all he

does. He has multiple concussions and has been treated severely for them as they were all quite

serious.

3. Unsurprisingly those that partook in contact sports seemed to have lower numbers than

others

4. Football and soccer seemed to pump out a very similar number.

5. There was no real discrepancy between male and female athletes.

Graphs:
CONCLUSION: The whole basis of neurological testing is to see whether or not a person has a
concussion or not. These tests determine the signs of a concussion. These test also help get the

history and the symptoms of one. These tests are key to see when an athlete is ready to get back.

Surprisingly most of our athletes had relatively similar numbers. However, having a personal

baseline is very necessary important to do for each athlete.

14