The learning effect of the King-Devick test in semi-professional rugby union athletes.

Gunasekaran, P; Fraser, CL; Hodge, C

The learning effect of the King-Devick test in semi-professional rugby union athletes.

Gunasekaran, P Fraser, CL Hodge, C

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Publisher:: Elsevier BV
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of the neurological sciences, 2020, 419
Issue Date:: 2020-10-02

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Gunasekaran, P
dc.contributor.author	Fraser, CL
dc.contributor.author	Hodge, C https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0516-6486
dc.date.accessioned	2020-10-19T04:26:29Z
dc.date.available	2020-09-30
dc.date.available	2020-10-19T04:26:29Z
dc.date.issued	2020-10-02
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of the neurological sciences, 2020, 419
dc.identifier.issn	0022-510X
dc.identifier.issn	1878-5883
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/143363
dc.description.abstract	OBJECTIVE:Abnormalities of eye movement and visual processing are common in traumatic brain injury. The King-Devick test (KDT) has been widely used in the detection and recovery of concussion. Current recommendations propose performing the initial test at baseline and then repeating annually to account for potential learning effects. In practice, this may still account for large deviations. The aim of this study was to determine the number of trials needed for a player to achieve a ceiling effect and to determine the validity of the existing protocol requiring two tests at baseline. METHODS:One hundred and eighty-three semi-professional male rugby union players (median age = 22.5 (21.0-25.3) years) were recruited. Over the duration, all athletes performed the KDT on an iPad, under standardised baseline procedures and then repeated the test based on availability during weekly in-season training. RESULTS:The improvement through each repeated trial was 0.60 ± 0.1 s (P < 0.001). The ceiling effect was determined at 30 trials. A median difference of 4.2 s (range 0-14.9) was calculated between the initial and best trial overall, although the greatest difference occurred within the first eight attempts. There was a significant positive correlation between the initial test value and the difference between first and fastest time (P < 0.001, r = 0.455). CONCLUSION:We have shown continuous improvement with repeated attempts which suggests that administrators ideally should continue to perform the KDT over the duration of the season to optimise the value of the test.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Elsevier BV
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of the neurological sciences
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.jns.2020.117168
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1103 Clinical Sciences, 1109 Neurosciences, 1701 Psychology
dc.title	The learning effect of the King-Devick test in semi-professional rugby union athletes.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	419
utslib.location.activity	Netherlands
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences
utslib.for	1109 Neurosciences
utslib.for	1701 Psychology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Orthoptics
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2020-10-19T04:26:22Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	419

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE:Abnormalities of eye movement and visual processing are common in traumatic brain injury. The King-Devick test (KDT) has been widely used in the detection and recovery of concussion. Current recommendations propose performing the initial test at baseline and then repeating annually to account for potential learning effects. In practice, this may still account for large deviations. The aim of this study was to determine the number of trials needed for a player to achieve a ceiling effect and to determine the validity of the existing protocol requiring two tests at baseline. METHODS:One hundred and eighty-three semi-professional male rugby union players (median age = 22.5 (21.0-25.3) years) were recruited. Over the duration, all athletes performed the KDT on an iPad, under standardised baseline procedures and then repeated the test based on availability during weekly in-season training. RESULTS:The improvement through each repeated trial was 0.60 ± 0.1 s (P < 0.001). The ceiling effect was determined at 30 trials. A median difference of 4.2 s (range 0-14.9) was calculated between the initial and best trial overall, although the greatest difference occurred within the first eight attempts. There was a significant positive correlation between the initial test value and the difference between first and fastest time (P < 0.001, r = 0.455). CONCLUSION:We have shown continuous improvement with repeated attempts which suggests that administrators ideally should continue to perform the KDT over the duration of the season to optimise the value of the test.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/143363