Task-Driven Neurophysiological qEEG Baseline Performance Capabilities in Healthy, Uninjured Division-I College Athletes.
# Background Athletic performance can be measured with a variety of clinical and functional assessment techniques. There is a need to better understand the relationship between the brain’s electrical activity and the body’s physiological performance capabilities in real-time while performing physi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
North American Sports Medicine Institute
2024-11-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.124935 |
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| _version_ | 1825197123314909184 |
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| author | Robert E. Mangine Thomas G. Palmer James A. Tersak Michael Mark Joseph F Clark Marsha Eifert-Mangine Audrey Hill-Lindsay Brian M Grawe |
| author_facet | Robert E. Mangine Thomas G. Palmer James A. Tersak Michael Mark Joseph F Clark Marsha Eifert-Mangine Audrey Hill-Lindsay Brian M Grawe |
| author_sort | Robert E. Mangine |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | # Background
Athletic performance can be measured with a variety of clinical and functional assessment techniques. There is a need to better understand the relationship between the brain’s electrical activity and the body’s physiological performance capabilities in real-time while performing physical tasks related to sport. Orthopedic functional assessments used to monitor the neuroplastic properties of the central nervous system lack objectivity and/or pertinent functionality specific to sport. The ability to assess brain wave activity with physiological metrics during functional exercises associated with sport has proven to be difficult and impractical in real-time sport settings. Quantitative electroencephalography or qEEG brain mapping is a unique, real-time comprehensive assessment of brain electrical activity performed in combination with physiometrics which offers insight to neurophysiological brain-to-body function. Brain neuroplasticity has been associated with differences in musculoskeletal performance among athletes, however comparative real-time normal data to benchmark performance capabilities is limited.
# Purpose/Design
This prospective, descriptive case series evaluated performance of task-driven activities using an innovative neurophysiological assessment technique of qEEG monitored neurophysiological responses to establish a comparative benchmark of performance capabilities in healthy, uninjured Division-I athletes.
# Methods
Twenty-eight healthy uninjured females (n=11) and males (n=17) NCAA Division-I athletes participated in real-time neurophysiological assessment using a Bluetooth, wireless 21-channel dry EEG headset while performing functional activities.
# Results
Uninjured athletes experienced standard and regulated fluctuations of brain wave activity in key performance indicators of attention, workload capacity and sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) asymmetries.
# Conclusion
qEEG neurophysiological real-time assessment concurrent with functional activities in uninjured, Division-I athletes may provide a performance capability benchmark. Real-time neurophysiological data can be used to monitor athletes’ preparedness to participate in sport, rehabilitation progressions, assist in development of injury prevention programs, and return to play decisions. While this paper focuses on healthy, uninjured participants, results underscore the need to discen pre-injury benchmarks.
# Level of Evidence
4 |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cc6bc2df060545568e3914734f9d4838 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2159-2896 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | North American Sports Medicine Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-cc6bc2df060545568e3914734f9d48382025-02-11T20:26:59ZengNorth American Sports Medicine InstituteInternational Journal of Sports Physical Therapy2159-28962024-11-011911Task-Driven Neurophysiological qEEG Baseline Performance Capabilities in Healthy, Uninjured Division-I College Athletes.Robert E. MangineThomas G. PalmerJames A. TersakMichael MarkJoseph F ClarkMarsha Eifert-MangineAudrey Hill-LindsayBrian M Grawe# Background Athletic performance can be measured with a variety of clinical and functional assessment techniques. There is a need to better understand the relationship between the brain’s electrical activity and the body’s physiological performance capabilities in real-time while performing physical tasks related to sport. Orthopedic functional assessments used to monitor the neuroplastic properties of the central nervous system lack objectivity and/or pertinent functionality specific to sport. The ability to assess brain wave activity with physiological metrics during functional exercises associated with sport has proven to be difficult and impractical in real-time sport settings. Quantitative electroencephalography or qEEG brain mapping is a unique, real-time comprehensive assessment of brain electrical activity performed in combination with physiometrics which offers insight to neurophysiological brain-to-body function. Brain neuroplasticity has been associated with differences in musculoskeletal performance among athletes, however comparative real-time normal data to benchmark performance capabilities is limited. # Purpose/Design This prospective, descriptive case series evaluated performance of task-driven activities using an innovative neurophysiological assessment technique of qEEG monitored neurophysiological responses to establish a comparative benchmark of performance capabilities in healthy, uninjured Division-I athletes. # Methods Twenty-eight healthy uninjured females (n=11) and males (n=17) NCAA Division-I athletes participated in real-time neurophysiological assessment using a Bluetooth, wireless 21-channel dry EEG headset while performing functional activities. # Results Uninjured athletes experienced standard and regulated fluctuations of brain wave activity in key performance indicators of attention, workload capacity and sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) asymmetries. # Conclusion qEEG neurophysiological real-time assessment concurrent with functional activities in uninjured, Division-I athletes may provide a performance capability benchmark. Real-time neurophysiological data can be used to monitor athletes’ preparedness to participate in sport, rehabilitation progressions, assist in development of injury prevention programs, and return to play decisions. While this paper focuses on healthy, uninjured participants, results underscore the need to discen pre-injury benchmarks. # Level of Evidence 4https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.124935 |
| spellingShingle | Robert E. Mangine Thomas G. Palmer James A. Tersak Michael Mark Joseph F Clark Marsha Eifert-Mangine Audrey Hill-Lindsay Brian M Grawe Task-Driven Neurophysiological qEEG Baseline Performance Capabilities in Healthy, Uninjured Division-I College Athletes. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| title | Task-Driven Neurophysiological qEEG Baseline Performance Capabilities in Healthy, Uninjured Division-I College Athletes. |
| title_full | Task-Driven Neurophysiological qEEG Baseline Performance Capabilities in Healthy, Uninjured Division-I College Athletes. |
| title_fullStr | Task-Driven Neurophysiological qEEG Baseline Performance Capabilities in Healthy, Uninjured Division-I College Athletes. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Task-Driven Neurophysiological qEEG Baseline Performance Capabilities in Healthy, Uninjured Division-I College Athletes. |
| title_short | Task-Driven Neurophysiological qEEG Baseline Performance Capabilities in Healthy, Uninjured Division-I College Athletes. |
| title_sort | task driven neurophysiological qeeg baseline performance capabilities in healthy uninjured division i college athletes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.124935 |
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