Sensorimotor Training for Injury Prevention in Collegiate Soccer Players II

University of Mississippi Medical Center130 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of an injury prevention intervention delivered primarily using headset virtual reality for collegiate soccer players. The hypothesis is that measures of sensorimotor control will improve, injury incidence rate will decrease and on-field soccer performance will improve.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

130

Conditions

Concussion, Mild Sport Injury

Interventions

Virtual Reality Sensorimotor TrainingOTHER

Games/activities specifically developed to train the sensorimotor system in headset virtual reality + strengthening of the neck

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Male and female athletes * 18 years of age or older * on the soccer roster who are eligible to play in the fall 2019 season at the participating institutions. Exclusion Criteria: * Current diagnosis of concussion (i.e. a non-medically cleared concussion) * Current lower-extremity musculoskeletal injury, * Seizure disorder with photo sensitivity * Other medical diagnosis that will prevent participation in the intervention.

Locations (1)

University of Mississippi Medical Center

Jackson, Mississippi, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Injury incidence rate

Traumatic injuries (concussion and leg injuries) across the 2019 soccer season/ number of countable athletic exposures

Time frame: approximately 16 weeks

Game Performance

Game performance will be analyzed through video recording of the 2019 season's games and analysis of performance metrics (performed by InStat). Key performance indices (with higher scores reflecting better performance during game play) will be used as the metric of game performance.

Time frame: approximately 16 weeks

Standing Balance

Standing balance (as measured on the Sway balance app 0 - 100 scale)

Time frame: Pre to post-intervention (approximately 6 weeks)

Reaction Time

Reaction time (as measured on the Sway balance app) including impulse control; inspection time; and simple reaction time

Time frame: Pre to post-intervention (approximately 6 weeks)

Oculomotor Control

Accuracy and latency of saccadic eye movements and smooth pursuit eye movements in response to an object presented to the participant on a computer screen (as measured by the Tobii eye tracker)

Time frame: Pre to post-intervention (approximately 6 weeks)

Near-Point Convergence

Distance of point of near-binocular convergence (as measured in centimeters)

Time frame: Pre to post-intervention (approximately 6 weeks)

Cranial Cervical Flexion Test

Cranial-cervical flexion neuromotor control (as measured by performance on the Cranial Cervical Flexion Test, mmHg level of control with a 3 second hold on a biofeedback pressure cuff)

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Secondary Outcomes

Score on Smooth Pursuit VR Game

Score on activities as recorded in headset VR. This game is scored on a 0 - 1000 point scale during completion of the game activity for 60 seconds. Requires participant to follow a moving object with eyes while tracing manually. Accuracy of manual trace produces total score. Higher score = better performance.

Time frame: Pre to post-intervention (approximately 6 weeks)

Score on Saccades VR Game

Score on activities as recorded in headset VR. This game is scored on a 0 - 1000 point scale during completion of the game activity for 60 seconds. Requires participant to shift eyes to location of a presented visual stimulus and to activate the location with a manual control. Speed and accuracy of manual activation produces total score. Higher score = better performance.

Time frame: Pre to post-intervention (approximately 6 weeks)

Score on Near Point Convergence VR Game

Time frame: Pre to post-intervention (approximately 6 weeks)

Score on Joint Position Error VR Game

Score on activities as recorded in headset VR. This game is scored on a 0 - 1000 point scale during completion of the game activity which is conducted according to the Clinical Joint Position Error Test. Accuracy of head relocation after 3 movements to the left, 3 to the right and 3 into extension produces total score. Higher score = better performance.

Time frame: Pre to post-intervention (approximately 6 weeks)

Score on Cervical Neuromotor Control VR Game

Score on activities as recorded in headset VR. This game is scored on a 0 - 1000 point scale during completion of the game activity for 60 seconds. Requires participant to use head and neck movement control to trace a maze. Score is based on accuracy and speed of maze trace. Higher score = better performance.

Time frame: Pre to post-intervention (approximately 6 weeks)

Score on Postural Control (Balance) VR Game

Score on activities as recorded in headset VR. This game is scored on a 0 - 1000 point scale during completion of the game activity for 60 seconds. Requires participant to maintain standing balance while visual scene in VR is tilting left and right. Score is based on postural sway as recorded by headset sensors. Higher score = better performance.

Time frame: Pre to post-intervention (approximately 6 weeks)

Score on Cervical Posture VR Game

Score on activities as recorded in headset VR. This game is scored on a 0 - 1000 point scale during completion of the game activity. Requires participant to reproduce a chin-tucked position and hold for 5 seconds. Score is based on correct head alignment (as compared to starting position, measured by headset sensors) across 10 repetitions. Higher score = better performance.

Time frame: Pre to post-intervention (approximately 6 weeks)

Score on Visual Figure VR Game

Score on activities as recorded in headset VR. This game is scored on a 0 - 1000 point scale during completion of the game activity for 60 seconds. Requires participant to visually search a complex scene to find a hidden object. Score is based on the number of correct manual identifications of the hidden object. Higher score = better performance.

Time frame: Pre to post-intervention (approximately 6 weeks)

Score on Peripheral Vision VR Game

Score on activities as recorded in headset VR. This game is scored on a 0 - 1000 point scale during completion of the game activity for 60 seconds. Requires participant to focus on central object and use peripheral vision to identify the same object and indicate with a manual selection. Score is based on number of correct identifications. Higher score = better performance.

Time frame: Pre to post-intervention (approximately 6 weeks)