The Acute Effect of Boxing on Balance, Neuropsychological, and Visual Functions

This is a prospective, repeated measures cohort study, which is able to make within-subject (pre and post boxing tournament) comparisons on measures of physiologic and behavioral function.

We plan to enroll boxing athletes who are participating in a boxing tournament. Each individual will be assessed on the following tests: balance (dynamic and static balance), vestibular-ocular motor function, neuropsychological function, and symptoms. Additionally, each boxing match will be video recorded and the total number of head impacts they sustain will be documented.

• In order to prospectively assess how a boxing tournament affects balance, neuropsychological, and visual functions from pre-tournament assessments to post-tournament assessments (Specific Aim 1), we plan to test all athletes before competition at the Pan-American games begins (pre-test) and after they have been eliminated from the tournament (post-test).
• In order to measure the associations between the number of head blows sustained during a boxing tournament with balance, neuropsychological, visual, and symptom deficits, we will also use a video camera to record each match and count the total number of hits to the head.

Inclusion criteria

• Participation in boxing at a pre-specified tournament
• Medically cleared to participate in the tournament, as determined by the attending medical staff

Exclusion criteria

• Any pre-existing neurological disorder, including but not limited to stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, any movement disorder, and cerebral palsy.
• Any currently active psychiatric condition, including specifically major depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. A history of a psychiatric condition but no ongoing psychiatric episode (e.g. not currently undergoing treatment for a major depressive episode) would not be an exclusion.
• Any unstable medical condition