An acute bout of controlled subconcussive impacts can alter dynamic cerebral autoregulation indices: a preliminary investigation

Jonathan D Smirl^#^{1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8}, Dakota Peacock^#⁹, Joel S Burma^{10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17}, Alexander D Wright^{10

9

18

19}, Kevin J Bouliane¹⁰, Jill Dierijck^{10

20}, Michael Kennefick¹⁰, Colin Wallace¹⁰, Paul van Donkelaar¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ Concussion Research Lab, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Vancouver, BC, Canada. jonathan.smirl@ucalgary.ca.
² Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. jonathan.smirl@ucalgary.ca.
³ Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada. jonathan.smirl@ucalgary.ca.
⁴ Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. jonathan.smirl@ucalgary.ca.
⁵ Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. jonathan.smirl@ucalgary.ca.
⁶ Integrated Concussion Research Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. jonathan.smirl@ucalgary.ca.
⁷ Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. jonathan.smirl@ucalgary.ca.
⁸ Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. jonathan.smirl@ucalgary.ca.
⁹ Southern Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
¹⁰ Concussion Research Lab, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
¹¹ Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
¹² Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
¹³ Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
¹⁴ Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
¹⁵ Integrated Concussion Research Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
¹⁶ Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
¹⁷ Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
¹⁸ MD/PhD Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
¹⁹ Experimental Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
²⁰ School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 35171333
DOI: 10.1007/s00421-022-04908-4

An acute bout of controlled subconcussive impacts can alter dynamic cerebral autoregulation indices: a preliminary investigation

Jonathan D Smirl et al. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2022 Apr.

. 2022 Apr;122(4):1059-1070.

doi: 10.1007/s00421-022-04908-4. Epub 2022 Feb 16.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Concussion Research Lab, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Vancouver, BC, Canada. jonathan.smirl@ucalgary.ca.
² Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. jonathan.smirl@ucalgary.ca.
³ Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada. jonathan.smirl@ucalgary.ca.
⁴ Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. jonathan.smirl@ucalgary.ca.
⁵ Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. jonathan.smirl@ucalgary.ca.
⁶ Integrated Concussion Research Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. jonathan.smirl@ucalgary.ca.
⁷ Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. jonathan.smirl@ucalgary.ca.
⁸ Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. jonathan.smirl@ucalgary.ca.
⁹ Southern Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
¹⁰ Concussion Research Lab, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
¹¹ Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
¹² Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
¹³ Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
¹⁴ Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
¹⁵ Integrated Concussion Research Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
¹⁶ Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
¹⁷ Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
¹⁸ MD/PhD Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
¹⁹ Experimental Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
²⁰ School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 35171333
DOI: 10.1007/s00421-022-04908-4

Abstract

Objectives: There is growing concern repetitive head contacts sustained by soccer players may lead to long-term health ramifications. Therefore, this preliminary investigation examined the impact an acute soccer heading bout has on dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) metrics.

Methods: In this preliminary investigation, 40 successful soccer headers were performed in 20 min by 7 male elite soccer players (24.1 ± 1.5 years). Soccer balls were launched at 77.5 ± 3.7 km/h from JUGS soccer machine, located 35 m away from participants. Linear and rotational head accelerations impacts were measured using an accelerometer (xPatch). The SCAT3 indexed concussion symptom score and severity before and after: soccer headers, sham (body contact only), and control conditions. Squat-stand maneuvers were performed at 0.05 Hz and 0.10 Hz to quantity dCA through measures of coherence, phase, and gain.

Results: Cumulative linear and rotational accelerations during soccer headers were 1574 ± 97.9 g and 313,761 ± 23,966 rads/s², respectively. SCAT3 symptom severity was elevated after the soccer heading bout (pre 3.7 ± 3.6, post 9.4 ± 7.6: p = 0.030) and five of the seven participants reported an increase in concussion-like symptoms (pre: 2.6 ± 3.0, post: 6.7 ± 6.2; p = 0.078). Phase at 0.10 Hz was elevated following soccer heading (p = 0.008). No other dCA metric differed following the three conditions.

Conclusion: These preliminary results indicate an acute bout of soccer heading resulted in alterations to dCA metrics. Therefore, future research with larger sample sizes is warranted to fully comprehend short- and long-term physiological changes related to soccer heading.

Keywords: Concussion; Football; Head; Physiology; Ultrasound.

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References

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An acute bout of controlled subconcussive impacts can alter dynamic cerebral autoregulation indices: a preliminary investigation

Affiliations

An acute bout of controlled subconcussive impacts can alter dynamic cerebral autoregulation indices: a preliminary investigation

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

References

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical