Head Trauma not Associated with Long Term Effects on Autonomic Function

Contact-sports can elicit concussions, which impacts autonomic function, as well repetitive head trauma, where function has not yet been assessed. Purpose To determine if differences in exist among three groups (CTRL: healthy non-contact-sport participant; RHT: trauma contact-sport CONC: previous concussion). Methods Forty men (16) and women (24), aged 18-37 (22±3), participated. Participants were grouped based on their sport concussion history (CTRL, RHT, CONC). The participant was outfitted with equipment to evaluate heart rate, blood pressure, cerebral-artery flow velocity (CBFv), the performed stimuli: deep breathing, Valsalva maneuver, a 70° head-up tilt test. All group comparisons analyzed using one-way ANOVA; all data are presented means ± standard deviation. Results did differ respiratory sinus arrhythmia 22±6bpm, 21±8bpm, 19±7bpm; p=0.471), ratio 2.19±0.39, 2.09±0.37, 2.00±0.47; p=0.519), CBFv 47.74±25.28cm/s, 40.99±10.93cm/s, 43.97±17.55cm/s; p=0.657), or time 806.09±368.37sec, 943.07±339.54sec, 978.40±387.98sec; p=0.479). However, CONC (113.24±11.64mmHg) had significantly higher mean systolic pressure during test than CTRL (102.66±7.79mmHg; p=0.026), while RHT (107.9±9.0mmHg) different (p=0.39) (p=0.319). Conclusion Concussions do seem have lasting effects function. Overwhelmingly, dysautonomia is present chronic recovery from concussions individuals contact-sports.