Concussion History and the Impact on Softball Batting and Reaction Time in Collegiate Softball Players: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT

The negative effects of concussion on cognitive and physical performance can linger beyond return to sport and may result in reduced sport performance. The effect of concussion history, including time since concussion and number of concussions, on sport performance is not well understood. The purposes of this study were to examine the effects of concussion history on softball batting measures, such as pitch recognition, swing timing, and swing decision making, and to compare a computerized reaction time (RT) test to a sport-specific RT test. A cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate softball batting and RT measures among collegiate softball players. Eighteen female collegiate softball players were recruited to participate. Participants were divided into two groups: those with previous concussion (n = 7; mean age, 20.7 years; mean number of concussions, 1.3; mean time since last concussion, 3.9 years) and those without (n = 11; mean age, 20.4 years). Pitch recognition, swing timing, and swing decision making were based on participants’ responses to pre-recorded pitching videos. Computerized RT included simple, choice, and go/no-go tests. Pitch recognition, swing timing, and swing decision making were similar between groups. There was not a significant correlation between computerized RT and swing RT. The preliminary findings suggest that collegiate softball players with concussion history can perform similarly on sport-specific tasks to those without concussion history, and sport-specific RT tests may provide unique information beyond computerized tests about an athlete’s ability to perform in their sport.

KEYWORDS:

• Concussion
• pitch recognition
• reaction time
• softball
• swing timing

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).