Normative Data for the NeuroCom Sensory Organization Test in United States Military Academy Boxers

BACKGROUND: Balance function is a key indicator in the identification of and recovery from concussion. The NeuroCom Sensory Organization Test (SOT) is used to objectively quantify balance using input from the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems. Baseline tests are necessary for comparison post-concussion. PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this study was to establish baseline SOT measures for the population that will be useful in the concussion assessment, diagnosis, and return to duty decisions following a concussion. Secondary aims were to compare females and males as well as concussed versus non-concussed. To the knowledge of the authors these are the only published normative data for a highly-active military population ages 17-23. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study METHODS: Two hundred fifty-three (70 female and 183 male) cadets in a boxing course at a service academy were enrolled. The participants were evaluated on the SOT using the NeuroCom Balance Manager (Natus Medical Inc., Seattle, WA) and each condition, composite (COMP) score, and ratio score were recorded. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in SOT COMP scores between females (COMP = 76.67 ± 7.25) and males (COMP = 76.57 ± 7.77), nor between participants with history of concussion (COMP = 75.83 ± 7.90) versus those never concussed (COMP = 76.75 ± 7.57). CONCLUSION: This study provides SOT reference values for young, healthy, active individuals, which will assist in the interpretation of individual scores for concussion diagnosis and recovery, as well as serve as baseline data for future studies. These data on 17-23-year-olds will add to the currently available normative values of 14-15-year-olds and 20-59-year-olds. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4