1. Baseline Vestibular/Ocular-Motor Screening (VOMS) Performance in a Youth Football Cohort
Ryan N. Moran1, Tracey Covassin1, RJ Elbin2
1 Michigan State University, Department of Kinesiology, East Lansing, MI 48824
2 University of Arkansas, Department of Health, Human, Performance, and Recreation, Fayetteville, AR 72701
Background
Methods
Data Analysis
Results
The NATA position statement emphasizes the implementation and use of a multi-faceted baseline concussion testing protocol1
Until recently, assessing the vestibular and ocular system involved sophisticated equipment that was not feasible or readily available to most sports medicine professionals2
The Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) is a five-minute assessment measuring symptom provocation that include saccadic eye movements, gaze stability, vestibular-ocular reflex, and near point convergence (NPC) distance and symptoms3
Baseline data has reported an average of 0.10 symptom score on all VOMS subscales3
An NPC ≥5cm and any VOMS item symptom score ≥2 resulted in an increased probability of identifying concussed patients3
There remains a lack of research in the youth population, especially in regard to vestibular/ocular assessment
Participants completed baseline VOMS assessments prior to the start of the season
All participants were recruited from a mid-Michigan youth football program
Athletic trainers and trained research assistants conducted baseline assessments
VOMS analyzed as subjective baseline symptom reporting on symptoms of headache, dizziness, nausea, and fogginess
191 youth male football athletes aged 8-14 (avg ± 1.44 years) completed baseline testing
65% of participants had no symptom provocation (All ‘0’ scores) on the VOMS assessment
~8% of participants reported baseline symptoms at the start of the examination
Baseline symptom assessment scores prior to examination were subjectively rated on a scale of 0-10 (low to high) for the four symptoms of headache, dizziness, nausea, and fogginess
VOMS subscales were scored as total symptom score change from baseline for the four symptoms of headache, dizziness, nausea, and fogginess
VOMS cutoff scores were identified as being scores ≥2 on any VOMS items and ≥5cm on NPC average
Discussion
This study was one of the first to examine youth VOMS symptom reporting as change from baseline
Youth athletes reported slightly higher increases in VOMS baseline symptom provocation as compared to previous literature3
Between ~2% and ~10% of participants scored above the VOMS cutoff scores for criteria for identifying a concussion
Further investigation is needed on VOMS symptom change from baseline scores and cutoff criteria
Percentage of Participants Over VOMS Cutoff Scores
VOMS Symptom Provocation (n=191)
To examine baseline performance on the VOMS assessment in youth football athletes aged 8-14 year old.
References
Purpose of the Study
1Broglio, S., Cantu, R., Gioia, G., Guskiewicz, K., Kutcher, J., Palm, M., & McLeod, T. (2014). National athletic trainers’ association position statement: management of sport concussion. Journal of Athletic Training, 49(2),
 2Guskiewicz, K., Ross, S., & Marshall, S. (2001). Postural stability and neuropsychological deficits after concussion in collegiate athletes. Journal of Athletic Training, 36(3),
 3Mucha, A., Collins, M., Elbin, R., Furman, J., Troutman-Enseki, C., DeWolf, R., Marchetti, G., & Kontos, A. (2014). A brief vestibular/ocular motor screening (VOMS) assessment to evaluate concussions. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 42(10),