Effect of mild brain injury on an instrumented agility task.
OBJECTIVE
To identify an objective evaluation technique to guide return-to-play decisions following mild brain injury (MBI) using an agility task that incorporates cognitive and motor performance.


METHODS
Prospective, controlled, repeated measures study.


METHODS
Collegiate athletic training facility.


METHODS
84 athletes (25 male rugby players, 34 female rugby players, 25 male ice hockey players) from 3 intercollegiate club teams participated. 9 athletes who suffered MBI during their competitive seasons and 9 matched controls completed the entire study protocol.


METHODS
Time to complete an agility task on the Cybex Reactor and a postconcussive symptoms scale score were assessed in all subjects during the preseason. Injured subjects and matched controls were also assessed 1, 3, 5, and 10 days postinjury.


RESULTS
Repeated measures analyses of variance revealed significant differences between injured subjects and controls in postconcussion symptoms, but not agility performance. Post hoc testing revealed that injured subjects reported significantly more postconcussion symptoms on Day 1 after injury.


CONCLUSIONS
The methods of agility assessment used in this study appear to not be sensitive enough to detect functional impairment following MBI.
Johnson
Philip D
PD
Department of Kinesiology, Athletic Training Research Laboratory, Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, 269 Recreation Building, University Park, PA 16802, U.S.A.
Hertel
Jay
J
Olmsted
Lauren C
LC
Denegar
Craig R
CR
Putukian
Margot
M
D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020208:Brain Injury, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis