The effects of multi-directional, high intensity exercise on the vestibular/ocular motor screening (VOMS) assessment in recreational athletes. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Whyte, Enda; Mulcahy, Billy; Byrne, Aoibheann; Beidler, Erica; O'Connor, Siobhan; Collins, Micky W.; Kontos, Anthony P.
• Is Part Of: Physical therapy in sport. Volume 58(2022)
• Page Start: 126
• Page End: 133
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Concussion -- VOMS -- High intensity exercise; Sports physical therapy -- Periodicals; Sports injuries -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- diagnosis -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- therapy -- Periodicals; Physical Therapy -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; 615.82088796
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2022.10.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1466-853X

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Identify the effects of multi-directional, high intensity exercise on VOMS symptom scores in male and female recreational, college-aged athletes. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Athletic Therapy facility. Participants: A convenience sample of 29 (15 females, 14 males; 21.48 ± 1.40 years old) healthy recreational athletes. Main outcome measures: VOMS symptom scores pre, immediately post-, and 10 min post a multidirectional, high intensity intermittent exercise protocol (HIIP). Friedman tests and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests identified significant differences at the time points. A Mann-Whitney U Test investigated the effect of sex. Results: The majority of component and overall VOMS symptom scores increased post-HIIP ( p < 0.001–0.007, effect sizes 0.39–0.50) and 10 min post-HIIP ( p = 0.003–0.015, effect sizes 0.32–0.39). Near point convergence distance increased immediately post-HIIP ( p < 0.001, effect size 0.52). Females had higher smooth pursuits ( z = −2.340, p = 0.019, r = 0.31), vertical vestibular ocular reflex ( z = −2.81, p = 0.04, r = 0.39) visual motion sensitivity ( z = −2.312, p = 0.021 r = 0.30) and overall VOMS symptom scores ( z = −2.84, p = 0.04, r = 0.27) 10 min post-HIIP. Conclusions: Multidirectional, high intensity exercise can induce concussive-like changes in VOMS symptom scores in healthy, recreational athletes, particularly in females. These results may assist in SRC assessment and management of athletes involved in multidirectional, high intensity sports. Highlights: Multi-directional, high intensity exercise causes immediate changes in VOMS symptom scores. Females were effected to a greater extent than males. Changes in VOMS symptom scores met clinical-cutoff values in over two thirds of subjects. The changes are largely driven by increases in reported dizziness.