Use of the King-Devick test for sideline concussion screening in junior rugby league
Open accessAbstract
Aim To determine whether the King-Devick (K-D) test used as a sideline test in junior rugby league players over 12 matches in a domestic competition season could identify witnessed and incidentally identified episodes of concussion.Methods A prospective observational cohort study of a club level junior rugby league team (n=19) during the 2014 New Zealand competition season involved every player completing two pre-competition season baseline trials of the K-D test. Players removed from match participation, or who reported any signs or symptoms of concussion were assessed on the sideline with the K-D test and referred for further medical assessment. Players with a pre- to post-match K-D test difference >3s were referred for physician evaluation.Results The baseline test-retest reliability of the K-D test was high (rs=0.86; p<0.0001). Seven concussions were medically identified in six players who recorded pre- to post-match K-D test times greater than 3s (mean change of 7.4s). Post-season testing of players demonstrated improvement of K-D time scores consistent with learning effects of using the K-D test (67.7s vs. 62.2s).Discussion Although no witnessed concussions occurred during rugby play, six players recorded pre- to post-match changes with a mean delay of 4s resulting in seven concussions being subsequently confirmed post-match by health practitioners. All players were medically managed for a return to sports participation.Conclusion The K-D test was quickly and easily administered making it a practical sideline tool as part of the continuum of concussion assessment tools for junior rugby league players.
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The King-Devick Test showed high test-retest reliability (ICC 0.97 [95% CI 0.90-1.0]).
“and showed high test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.97 [95% confidence interval 0.90–1.0]).”
From A Critical Review of Consumer Wearables, Mobile Applications, and Equipment for Providing Biofeedback, Monitoring Stress, and Sleep in Physically Active Populations (2018) · cites this paper as King et al., 2015
King-Devick Test performance is significantly impaired in American football players, rugby league players, and combat soldiers experiencing concussion.
“Performance in the King-Devick Test® is significantly impaired in American football players (Seidman et al., 2015), rugby league players (King et al., 2015), and combat soldiers (Walsh et al., 2016) experiencing concussion.”
From A Critical Review of Consumer Wearables, Mobile Applications, and Equipment for Providing Biofeedback, Monitoring Stress, and Sleep in Physically Active Populations (2018) · cites this paper as King et al., 2015
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Assessment of the King-Devick® (KD) test for screening acute mTBI/concussion in warfighters
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- Authors
- King, D., Hume, P., Gissane, C., & Clark, T.
- Affiliations
- Auckland University of Technology (NZ)
- St Mary's University Twickenham London (GB)
- Australian College of Physical Education (AU)
- Corresponding author
- King, D.
- Venue
- Journal of the Neurological Sciences
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-10
- Volume
- 357
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 75-79
- ISSN
- 0022-510X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1523431227
- Cited by
- 81
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 3
- FWCI
- 8.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of the Neurological Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Tuwhera (Auckland University of Technology) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports injuries and prevention
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disturbances
- Keywords
- King-Devick test, concussion screening, sideline assessment, concussion, baseline assessment, test-retest reliability, learning effects, return to sport
- MeSH terms
- Athletic Injuries, Brain Concussion, Child, Female, Football, Humans, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Prospective Studies, Reproducibility of Results
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