Use of the SCAT-5 to Predict Return to Play in High School Athletes With History of Concussion.

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

12-2021

Publication Title

PM & R

Abstract

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-5 (SCAT-5) symptom scale will be most predictive of days lost from play in a sample of high school athletes with a history of concussion. We also examined differences between males and females in terms of symptom reporting and days lost from play.

Design: Descriptive and correlational retrospective study

Setting : This study included data from regional high school athletic programs maintained by the athletic training service in a suburban hospital system in Southeastern Michigan. Participants : 383 student athletes (Male 245, Female 138) evaluated by the athletic training service between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019.

Interventions: not applicable

Main Outcome Measures: SCAT-5 symptom scale scores and number of days lost from play

Results: We found that SCAT-5 symptom scores were positively correlated with days lost from play (r=0.13, p < 0.05). No other SCAT-5 variables were correlated with days lost from play. We also found expected inter-correlations between SCAT-5 symptom scale scores and other SCAT-5 variables (e.g. concentration, delayed recall, and modified Balance Error Scoring System scores). There were no differences between males and females in terms of symptoms or days lost, nor were there differences between sports.

Conclusions: The SCAT-5 symptom scale is a good predictor of the duration of time away from sports in high school athletes with concussions. This fits with previous literature supporting symptom reporting as being a good predictor of outcome from a concussion in student athletes and supports the use of the symptom scale from the SCAT-5 as a clinical tool. While other studies have found gender differences in concussion symptom reporting, we did not find this in our sample.

Level of Evidence: Level II

Volume

13

Issue

(suppl. 1)

First Page

s111

Comments

Annual Assembly of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R), Virtual, November 11-14, 2021.

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