Mixed Martial Arts: Comparing the King-Devick and Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 in knockouts, technical knockouts and choke holds

• Published in: Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation Vol. 5; no. 4; p. 100301
• Main Authors: Twohey, Eric E., Hasley, Ike B., Shaeffer, Patrick J., Ceremuga, George A., Firkins, Stephen A., Stringer, Gene C., Vaz Carneiro Filho, Mario Roberto, Hollman, John H., Savica, Rodolfo, Finnoff, Jonathan T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Athletes; Brain injury; Martial arts; Original Research; Perfusion; ROC Curve; MMA; SCAT5; KO; SRC; LR; Athletes; AUC; Martial arts; Perfusion; ROC Curve; KD; TKO; TBI; Brain injury
• ISSN: 2590-1095; 2590-1095
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arrct.2023.100301

To compare validity indices of the King-Devick (KD) test and Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (SCAT5) for traumatic events in MMA, and to determine if perfusion events (alterations in consciousness as the result of choke holds) cause similar changes in KD/SCAT5 scores. A prospective cohort study in MMA fighters who completed KD and SCAT5 assessments before and after a match. Outcomes were categorized as non-event, traumatic event, or perfusion event. KD/SCAT5 changes were compared between all athletes. One hundred forty MMA athletes (7 women, 133 men), mean age=27.1 ± 4.9 years. N/A King-Devick (KD) test and Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (SCAT5) Among the 140 athletes, 19 sustained traumatic and 15 perfusion events. Testing provided sensitivities/specificities of 21.05%/93.39% (KD) and 77.78%/52.99% (SCAT5) in detecting a traumatic event. KD and SCAT5 Symptom Severity scores differed between athletes with and without traumatic events (P=.041 and .014). KD and SCAT5 Symptoms Score changes were observed between athletes with and without traumatic events (P=.023 and .042). Neither KD nor SCAT5 differed significantly between athletes with and without perfusion events. The KD test provides high specificity and the SCAT5 demonstrates reasonable sensitivity when detecting a traumatic event. Of the SCAT5, symptoms-related scores may most effectively identify a traumatic event. A traumatic event may cause KD/SCAT5 changes similar to a concussion, while perfusion events did not.