Sport concussion assessment tool - 3rd edition - normative reference values for professional ice hockey players

Abstract

Objectives: To determine normative reference values for the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-3rd Edition (SCAT3) using a large sample of professional male ice hockey players.

Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

Methods: Preseason baseline testing was administered individually to 304 professional male ice hockey players.

Results: The participants were aged between 16 and 40 with a mean (M) age of 25.3 years. Over 60% of the athletes reported previous concussion, almost 20% had been hospitalized or medically imaged following a head trauma. Of the players, 48% reported no symptoms. The symptom score median (Md) was 1.0 (M=1.5) and severity median was 1.0 (M=2.3). The median of the SAC score was 27.0 (M=27.0). The median of the M-BESS was 1.0 (M=2.0). The Tandem gait median was 10.9s (M=10.8s). The most common baseline symptom was neck pain (24%). Delayed recall was the most difficult component of the SAC (Md=4); only 24% performed it flawlessly. All athletes completed the double-leg stance of the M-BESS without errors, but there was performance variability in the tandem stance (Md=0, M=0.6, range=0-10) and single-leg stance (Md=1.0, M=1.4, range=0-10).

Conclusions: Representative normative reference values for the SCAT3 among professional male ice hockey players are provided.

Keywords: Baseline survey; Brain concussion; Clinical assessment; Head injuries.