Assessment in Mixed Martial Arts Athletes

What is it about?

This is the first study to examine the relationship between the increasingly popular sport of mixed-martial-arts and objective computerized cognitive performance. Specifically, the study examines whether the neuropsychological functioning of MMA athletes differs from athletes who are not exposed to contact striking and associated head traumas. Also assessed is the relationship between cognitive performance and MMA training routines. This cross-sectional design involved 28 MMA athletes and 28 control athletes. The Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment Cognitive Test (ImPACT) as well as a questionnaire on training routines were administered. No neuropsychological differences were found between groups of athletes. Additionally, no aspects of MMA training regimen shared a reliable relationship with neuropsychological performance or subjective concussive symptoms. Results from this first study to assess cognitive profiles of MMA athletes' using an objective computerized neuropsychological assessment instrument suggests participation in MMA is not related to neuropsychological task performance. Furthermore, the neurocognitive performance of MMA athletes was indistinguishable from control athletes not regularly exposed to repeated head trauma.

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