Date Approved

2008

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department or School

Health Promotion and Human Performance

Committee Member

Christine Karshin, Ph.D., Chair

Committee Member

Stephen McGregor, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Murali Nair, Ph.D.

Abstract

There are limited studies that deal with the acute and chronic effects that high collision sports have on neurocognitive function. This study used a standardized concussion assessment (SAC) test to examine the effects that participation in high school football and high school soccer has on athletes’ neurocognitive functions throughout a season.

Forty-six male high school athletes participated in this study: 30 football players, and 16 soccer players. Each athlete underwent baseline SAC testing and a variety of SAC tests three additional times throughout the duration of the season, approximately 3 weeks apart.

Data analyses of the SAC scores did not show any significant decrease in neurocognitive function in either the sport of football or soccer throughout a season. The results of this study conclude that participation in the sport of football and soccer does not have any effect on an athletes neurocognitive function throughout a season.

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