EYE-SYNC Saccade Outcomes and Health/Demographic Factors in CFL Athletes

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between demographic and health factors, and oculomotor functioning during baseline testing in professional athletes. Four hundred twenty-eight male athletes consented and participated in the baseline concussion assessments of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Athletes ranged from 21 to 40 years of age (M =26.44, SD =2.873), and reported a history of 0, 1, or 2+ sport-related concussions (SRCs). All athlete participants completed the Head Check questions of demographics and medical history, and the EYE-SYNC saccade test to explore how the presence of a history of concussions, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Learning Disability (LD), age, and post-exertion influenced baseline measures of oculomotor functioning using the EYE-SYNC saccade outcomes of accuracy and precision. Correlations revealed no significant relationships between combined vertical and horizontal saccade outcomes (LeftAccuracyXY, LeftPrecisionXY, RightAccuracyXY, RightPrecisionXY) and the demographic/health variables (p > .05). Independent t-tests indicated no significant differences in mean saccade performance between athletes with and without ADHD and/or LD (p > .05). Furthermore, three-way multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) run with age group (21-25, 26-30, 31-40) and concussion group (0, 1, 2+) revealed no main effects of age, F(8, 844) = .914, p = .504, Wilks’ = .983, partial η2 = .0) or history of concussion, F(8, 510) = .856, p = .554, Wilks’ = .974, partial η2 = .013). A one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed no significant differences from pre- to post-exertion assessments, F(4, 56) = .411, p = .800, Wilks’ = .971. The oculomotor functioning of CFL athletes at baseline, measured using the EYE-SYNC saccade task, does not appear to be influenced by a history of concussion, ADHD, LD, age, or physical exertion. This information may help professionals with their clinical decision-making regarding the diagnosis of SRCs, and return-to-play.