The Acute Effect of Boxing on Balance, Neuropsychological, and Visual Functions

The Acute Effect of Boxing on Balance, Neuropsychological, and Visual Functions

Prior research has investigated the effect of repetitive head trauma as it relates to physiological and psychological function. Boxing is one particular sport which predisposes athletes to a large amount of head impacts. We plan to assess the effects of a boxing tournament on balance, neuropsychological, and visual functions.

This is a prospective, repeated measures cohort study, which is able to make within-subject (pre and post boxing tournament) comparisons on measures of physiologic and behavioral function.

We plan to enroll boxing athletes who are participating in a boxing tournament. Each individual will be assessed on the following tests: balance (dynamic and static balance), vestibular-ocular motor function, neuropsychological function, and symptoms. Additionally, each boxing match will be video recorded and the total number of head impacts they sustain will be documented.

• In order to prospectively assess how a boxing tournament affects balance, neuropsychological, and visual functions from pre-tournament assessments to post-tournament assessments (Specific Aim 1), we plan to test all athletes before competition at the Pan-American games begins (pre-test) and after they have been eliminated from the tournament (post-test).
• In order to measure the associations between the number of head blows sustained during a boxing tournament with balance, neuropsychological, visual, and symptom deficits, we will also use a video camera to record each match and count the total number of hits to the head.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Participation in boxing at a pre-specified tournament
2. Medically cleared to participate in the tournament, as determined by the attending medical staff

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any pre-existing neurological disorder, including but not limited to stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, any movement disorder, and cerebral palsy.
2. Any currently active psychiatric condition, including specifically major depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. A history of a psychiatric condition but no ongoing psychiatric episode (e.g. not currently undergoing treatment for a major depressive episode) would not be an exclusion.
3. Any unstable medical condition