title: Balance control during gait in athletes and non-athletes following concussion.
abstract: Current literature provides only limited information regarding performance on dynamic motor tasks following concussion. However, recent investigations have suggested that participation in contact sports may have a negative effect on cognitive function without the existence of a medically diagnosed concussion. The purpose of this study was to examine balance control during gait in concussed and uninjured athletes and non-athletes. Twenty-eight Grade 2 concussed individuals (14 athletes and 14 non-athletes) and 28 uninjured matched controls (14 athletes and 14 non-athletes) were assessed for their gait performance within 48 h, 5, 14, and 28 days post-injury under conditions of divided and undivided attention. Athletes, whether concussed or not, walked slower and swayed more and faster than non-athletes. Athletes consistently demonstrated gait imbalance even in the absence of concussion. The findings of this study support the supposition that participation in high-impact sports has a measurable and possibly detrimental effect on balance control in the absence of a medically diagnosed concussion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Physiology, 1240 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
authors.forename: Tonya M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Louis R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Osternig
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Donkelaar
authors.forename: Li-Shan
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D055815:Young Adult