Reliability and validity of upper extremity neurocognitive reactive tests in collegiate athletes

OBJECTIVES: Neurocognitive function is vital in sports, but evidence supporting neurocognitive reaction testing in upper extremity return-to-sport testing is limited. This study's purpose was to quantify measurement properties of upper extremity reactive testing in collegiate athletes, hypothesizing acceptable measurement properties for clinical use. DESIGN: Cross-Sectional Study. SETTING: Collegiate athletics. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-three healthy athletes (25 females, age = 20.8 ± 1.6 years, BMI = 25.6 ± 2.6 kg/m2; 38 males, age = 20.8 ± 1.6, BMI = 25.7 ± 2.6 kg/m2). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Successful touches and average reaction time on the Upper Extremity Reactive Closed Kinetic Chain Test (UERCKCT) and Upper Extremity Reactive Open Kinetic Chain Test (UEROKCT); successful touches on the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST). RESULTS: = 0.75-0.94), except for one condition. UERCKCT and UEROKCT touches demonstrated moderate-to-large correlation with CKCUEST (r = 0.40-0.67, p < 0.01) except for one condition. UERCKCT and UEROKCT reaction time demonstrated moderate-to-large correlation with CKCUEST (r = -0.38 to -0.67, p < 0.01) except for one condition. UEROKCT nondominant/dominant ratios were 98.2-103.2%% (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The UERCKCT and UEROKCT demonstrated good-to-excellent reliability and demonstrated convergent validity with an established proactive test. UEROKCT demonstrates symmetrical limb performance. This is the first study to show acceptable reliability and preliminary convergent validity of these tests for clinical assessment of neurocognitive function.