Current research shows that mindfulness and physical training programs have been shown to help re... more Current research shows that mindfulness and physical training programs have been shown to help reduce stress independently, however, limited research is available exploring the possible additive effects of implementing both training programs together [1, 2]. To test the feasibility and effectiveness of the Mind-Body Fitness program through a case-series pilot program, seven elementary school teachers completed a nine-week mindfulness and fitness program. The Perceived Stress Scale [3] was administered at three time points to measure changes in stress levels, and then a focus group was conducted at the conclusion of the program. Focus groups were analyzed using thematic analysis. Mean scores on the Perceived Stress Scale decreased over time. Three themes were identified 1) Perception of stress levels, 2) Integration of stress reduction, and 3) Program evaluation. A novel approach to the integration of mindfulness and fitness created a program with the benefits and strengths of both. Teachers believed the program helped reduce stress levels. The fitness component highlighted the role of support systems in stress reduction, and the mindfulness component has a carry-over effect in managing stress in and out of the classroom.
Context: Concussion research has primarily focused on sport-related mechanisms and excluded non-s... more Context: Concussion research has primarily focused on sport-related mechanisms and excluded non-sport related mechanisms. In adult populations, non-sport related concussions (non-SRC) demonstrate worse clinical outcomes relative to sport-related concussions (SRC); however, there is limited research examining non-SRC in college-aged patients. Objective: Examine clinical outcomes in collegiate athletes with non-SRC compared to SRC and examine sex differences in outcomes within non-SRC. Design: Prospective cohort. Setting: Clinical setting Participants: A total of 3,500 athletes were included (n=555 non-SRC; 42.5% female) from colleges/universities and service academies participating in the National Collegiate Athletic Association-Department of Defense Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium. Main Outcome Measures: Dichotomous outcomes (yes/no) included immediate reporting, mental status alterations, loss of consciousness (LOC), posttraumatic amnesia (PTA), ret...
When you need a fundamental and clinical understanding of sports concussions, supplemented by cur... more When you need a fundamental and clinical understanding of sports concussions, supplemented by current research and management techniques, look to Cram Session in Evaluation of Sports Concussion: A Handbook for Students & Clinicians for quick and at- your-fingertips facts. Cram Session in Evaluation of Sports Concussion: A Handbook for Students & Clinicians by Dr. Tamerah N. Hunt is a succinct and descriptive quick reference that provides the health care professional with a simple step-by-step approach to various sports concussion assessment and management techniques. Cram Session in Evaluation of Sports Concussion: A Handbook for Students & Clinicians is designed to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice to improve assessment and management of sports- related concussion and return-to-play decisions. What is in your "Cram Session" * Concept maps * Red flags for differential diagnoses * Return to participation guidelines * Detailed algorithms for evaluation, t...
Anxiety which is commonly divided into two components: trait and state occurs in approximately 15... more Anxiety which is commonly divided into two components: trait and state occurs in approximately 15-20% of adolescent females and can significantly affect performance on cognitive tasks. Cognitive deficits in attention, memory, information processing, concentration and reaction time are common following concussion and the potential link between anxiety and baseline testing should be examined. PURPOSE: Examine the effects of state and trait anxiety on ImPACT in adolescent females. METHODS: 35 adolescent female athletes were administered ImPACT, and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory during baseline testing. Participants were split into groups, based on trait (low n=18, high n=17) and state (low n=26, high n=9) levels. One-way ANOVAs were calculated with a Bonferroni correction (p\u3c.008) to examine group differences. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between state groups for total symptom score (F(1, 33) = 9.01, p= .005), where those with high state anxiety exhibited more symptoms. While differences in trait groups included total symptom score (F(1, 33) = 9.58, p= .004), and visual motor composite (F(1, 33) = 10.11, p= .003), where athletes with high trait anxiety had more symptoms and lower visual motor speed. CONCLUSION: Although, much of the literature focuses on state anxiety, these findings provides initial support for trait anxiety effecting commonly used concussion assessment tools. Screening for anxiety may benefit clinician’s ability to monitor injury recovery and manage concussion in female athletes
Sports-related concussion assessment has not examined an individual's effort level during baselin... more Sports-related concussion assessment has not examined an individual's effort level during baseline testing. This research examined the level of effort in an athletic population and determined if sub-optimal effort effects neuropsychological test scores. Design: 199 high school athletes, mean age (15.54+ 1.17 years) were administered a brief neuropsychological test battery including the Dot Counting Test (DCT) and the Rey 15-item test with recognition trial. Measurement: One-way analyses of variance were calculated for each outcome measure to examine differences between effort groups. Results: 177 athletes exerted optimal effort while 22 exerted sub-optimal effort. Significant differences existed between effort groups on several of the neuropsychological tests. Conclusions: Sub-optimal effort does exist in the athletic population during baseline testing with statistically significant differences between groups on neuropsychological test scores. Adding an objective effort test is necessary to improve interpretations of scores within concussion assessment.
Clinical Scenario: Anxiety is a mental disorder that affects a large portion of the population an... more Clinical Scenario: Anxiety is a mental disorder that affects a large portion of the population and may be problematic when evaluating brain injuries such as concussion. The reliance of cognitive testing in concussion protocols call for the examination of potential cognitive alterations commonly seen in athletes with anxiety. Focused Clinical Question: Does anxiety affect neuropsychological assessments in healthy college athletes? Summary of Key Findings: Three studies were included: 1 cross-sectional study and 2 prospective cohort studies. One study examined the effect of a range of psychological issues on concussion baseline testing in college athletes. Another study examined the effect of anxiety on reaction time both before and after sport competition in college-aged athletes. The final study examined the effects of psychosocial issues on reaction time during demanding tasks in college athletes. The first study reported slower simple and complex reaction times in athletes with an...
Offering youth, especially youth at risk, access to something different has the opportunity to al... more Offering youth, especially youth at risk, access to something different has the opportunity to allow participants to discover new passions and interests. A nontraditional sports program was offered to middle school students who were members of the local Boys and Girls Club during the 2015-2016 academic year. Identifying a program focusing on CrossFit was valuable because CrossFit Kids programming is geared to develop the whole child addressing health and lifestyle choices and social responsibility. The purpose of this paper is to describe the program, examine what worked and did not work, and note what changes were made based on the outcomes. Overall, the program proved to be valuable for the participants. Success was found when the participants' voices were used to inform adjustments to the program based on their needs instead of following pre-defined, fixed outcomes.
Describe the psychological impact of cognitive rest in adolescents recovering from concussion fro... more Describe the psychological impact of cognitive rest in adolescents recovering from concussion from sport-related concussion. Eight male football players with a previous sport concussion and full recovery completed semi-structured interviews during focus group sessions. Using content analysis, the researchers independently analyzed notes and transcriptions to identify themes associated with the psychological impact of cognitive rest. Common themes included: 1) sport as social support, and 2) boredom-complicated recovery following cognitive rest. The current treatment protocol indicating cognitive rest and removal from school and sport may be detrimental in a population that is peer-dependent. Future research should explore generalizability and additional factors that may complicate psychological recovery of adolescent athletes following concussive injuries.
Current research shows that mindfulness and physical training programs have been shown to help re... more Current research shows that mindfulness and physical training programs have been shown to help reduce stress independently, however, limited research is available exploring the possible additive effects of implementing both training programs together [1, 2]. To test the feasibility and effectiveness of the Mind-Body Fitness program through a case-series pilot program, seven elementary school teachers completed a nine-week mindfulness and fitness program. The Perceived Stress Scale [3] was administered at three time points to measure changes in stress levels, and then a focus group was conducted at the conclusion of the program. Focus groups were analyzed using thematic analysis. Mean scores on the Perceived Stress Scale decreased over time. Three themes were identified 1) Perception of stress levels, 2) Integration of stress reduction, and 3) Program evaluation. A novel approach to the integration of mindfulness and fitness created a program with the benefits and strengths of both. Teachers believed the program helped reduce stress levels. The fitness component highlighted the role of support systems in stress reduction, and the mindfulness component has a carry-over effect in managing stress in and out of the classroom.
Context: Concussion research has primarily focused on sport-related mechanisms and excluded non-s... more Context: Concussion research has primarily focused on sport-related mechanisms and excluded non-sport related mechanisms. In adult populations, non-sport related concussions (non-SRC) demonstrate worse clinical outcomes relative to sport-related concussions (SRC); however, there is limited research examining non-SRC in college-aged patients. Objective: Examine clinical outcomes in collegiate athletes with non-SRC compared to SRC and examine sex differences in outcomes within non-SRC. Design: Prospective cohort. Setting: Clinical setting Participants: A total of 3,500 athletes were included (n=555 non-SRC; 42.5% female) from colleges/universities and service academies participating in the National Collegiate Athletic Association-Department of Defense Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium. Main Outcome Measures: Dichotomous outcomes (yes/no) included immediate reporting, mental status alterations, loss of consciousness (LOC), posttraumatic amnesia (PTA), ret...
When you need a fundamental and clinical understanding of sports concussions, supplemented by cur... more When you need a fundamental and clinical understanding of sports concussions, supplemented by current research and management techniques, look to Cram Session in Evaluation of Sports Concussion: A Handbook for Students & Clinicians for quick and at- your-fingertips facts. Cram Session in Evaluation of Sports Concussion: A Handbook for Students & Clinicians by Dr. Tamerah N. Hunt is a succinct and descriptive quick reference that provides the health care professional with a simple step-by-step approach to various sports concussion assessment and management techniques. Cram Session in Evaluation of Sports Concussion: A Handbook for Students & Clinicians is designed to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice to improve assessment and management of sports- related concussion and return-to-play decisions. What is in your "Cram Session" * Concept maps * Red flags for differential diagnoses * Return to participation guidelines * Detailed algorithms for evaluation, t...
Anxiety which is commonly divided into two components: trait and state occurs in approximately 15... more Anxiety which is commonly divided into two components: trait and state occurs in approximately 15-20% of adolescent females and can significantly affect performance on cognitive tasks. Cognitive deficits in attention, memory, information processing, concentration and reaction time are common following concussion and the potential link between anxiety and baseline testing should be examined. PURPOSE: Examine the effects of state and trait anxiety on ImPACT in adolescent females. METHODS: 35 adolescent female athletes were administered ImPACT, and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory during baseline testing. Participants were split into groups, based on trait (low n=18, high n=17) and state (low n=26, high n=9) levels. One-way ANOVAs were calculated with a Bonferroni correction (p\u3c.008) to examine group differences. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between state groups for total symptom score (F(1, 33) = 9.01, p= .005), where those with high state anxiety exhibited more symptoms. While differences in trait groups included total symptom score (F(1, 33) = 9.58, p= .004), and visual motor composite (F(1, 33) = 10.11, p= .003), where athletes with high trait anxiety had more symptoms and lower visual motor speed. CONCLUSION: Although, much of the literature focuses on state anxiety, these findings provides initial support for trait anxiety effecting commonly used concussion assessment tools. Screening for anxiety may benefit clinician’s ability to monitor injury recovery and manage concussion in female athletes
Sports-related concussion assessment has not examined an individual's effort level during baselin... more Sports-related concussion assessment has not examined an individual's effort level during baseline testing. This research examined the level of effort in an athletic population and determined if sub-optimal effort effects neuropsychological test scores. Design: 199 high school athletes, mean age (15.54+ 1.17 years) were administered a brief neuropsychological test battery including the Dot Counting Test (DCT) and the Rey 15-item test with recognition trial. Measurement: One-way analyses of variance were calculated for each outcome measure to examine differences between effort groups. Results: 177 athletes exerted optimal effort while 22 exerted sub-optimal effort. Significant differences existed between effort groups on several of the neuropsychological tests. Conclusions: Sub-optimal effort does exist in the athletic population during baseline testing with statistically significant differences between groups on neuropsychological test scores. Adding an objective effort test is necessary to improve interpretations of scores within concussion assessment.
Clinical Scenario: Anxiety is a mental disorder that affects a large portion of the population an... more Clinical Scenario: Anxiety is a mental disorder that affects a large portion of the population and may be problematic when evaluating brain injuries such as concussion. The reliance of cognitive testing in concussion protocols call for the examination of potential cognitive alterations commonly seen in athletes with anxiety. Focused Clinical Question: Does anxiety affect neuropsychological assessments in healthy college athletes? Summary of Key Findings: Three studies were included: 1 cross-sectional study and 2 prospective cohort studies. One study examined the effect of a range of psychological issues on concussion baseline testing in college athletes. Another study examined the effect of anxiety on reaction time both before and after sport competition in college-aged athletes. The final study examined the effects of psychosocial issues on reaction time during demanding tasks in college athletes. The first study reported slower simple and complex reaction times in athletes with an...
Offering youth, especially youth at risk, access to something different has the opportunity to al... more Offering youth, especially youth at risk, access to something different has the opportunity to allow participants to discover new passions and interests. A nontraditional sports program was offered to middle school students who were members of the local Boys and Girls Club during the 2015-2016 academic year. Identifying a program focusing on CrossFit was valuable because CrossFit Kids programming is geared to develop the whole child addressing health and lifestyle choices and social responsibility. The purpose of this paper is to describe the program, examine what worked and did not work, and note what changes were made based on the outcomes. Overall, the program proved to be valuable for the participants. Success was found when the participants' voices were used to inform adjustments to the program based on their needs instead of following pre-defined, fixed outcomes.
Describe the psychological impact of cognitive rest in adolescents recovering from concussion fro... more Describe the psychological impact of cognitive rest in adolescents recovering from concussion from sport-related concussion. Eight male football players with a previous sport concussion and full recovery completed semi-structured interviews during focus group sessions. Using content analysis, the researchers independently analyzed notes and transcriptions to identify themes associated with the psychological impact of cognitive rest. Common themes included: 1) sport as social support, and 2) boredom-complicated recovery following cognitive rest. The current treatment protocol indicating cognitive rest and removal from school and sport may be detrimental in a population that is peer-dependent. Future research should explore generalizability and additional factors that may complicate psychological recovery of adolescent athletes following concussive injuries.
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