Gaze stabilization function does not predict injury incidence among collegiate athletes

Abstract

Maintenance of visual acuity during head movement is essential for optimal performance in sport. While it seems reasonable to suspect that reduced gaze stabilization might impair physical performance on the playing field and contribute to increased incidence of injury, the relationship between gaze stabilization function and athletic injury has not been examined. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of gaze stabilization on the incidence of injury in collegiate athletes. A total of 147 collegiate athletes were assessed using the Neurocom Invision gaze stabilization test (GST) prior to season of play in the horizontal plane. Injury reports for each athlete were recorded during the fall season, and then, comparisons between GST performance for those injured versus not were performed. Fifty‐eight percent of the athletes were injured during the season. There was no difference in average GST scores or asymmetry between athletes who sustained injury during season and those who did not. Lower horizontal gaze stabilization function does not appear to be associated with an increase in injury incidence in collegiate athletes. Baseline gaze stabilization testing is not recommended for identification of athletes at risk but could be utilized to establish baseline function.