Title: The effects of a Symbol Digits Modality Test (SDMT) on jump-landing biomechanics in physically active males and females

Undergraduates: Morgan Andrejchak, Kevin Biese

Faculty Advisor: Darin Padua
Department: Exercise & Sport Science

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Context: Sport-related lower extremity injuries often occur when an athlete is not properly allocating attention during a functional task, such as landing and cutting. Little research has been done to determine how attention allocation may lead to injury or how an individual¿¿¿s lower extremity biomechanics during functional tasks respond when paired with a concurrent cognitive task. Given the importance of attentional focus and lower extremity biomechanics on lower extremity injury, it is crucial to understand how these variables interact. Objective: To determine the effects of a Symbol Digits Modality Test (SDMT) on jump-landing biomechanics in physically active males and females. Materials and Methods: 21 participants volunteered in a controlled research lab. Participants had to play football, rugby, soccer, basketball, or lacrosse at least once a week, have no history of lower extremity surgery, and been cleared for play for at least 6 months following a concussion. Participants completed baseline SDMT (3 trials); then an alternating jump-landing task during simultaneous SDMT (3 trials) and jump-landing task without simultaneous cognitive task (3-trials) in randomized controlled trials. An expert rater scored standard videos of the frontal and sagittal views using the landing error scoring system (LESS) to evaluate lower extremity biomechanics. Results/Conclusion: Results and conclusion to be stated upon completion of research study.