title: Altered dynamic postural control during gait termination following concussion.
abstract: Impaired postural control is a cardinal symptom following concussion. Planned gait termination (GT) is a non-novel, dynamic task that challenges postural control in individuals with neurological deficits, and it could be an impactful measure for identifying dynamic postural control impairments following concussion. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess acute post-concussion dynamic postural control utilizing a planned GT task. The concussion participants (n=19, age: 19.0±0.8years, height: 177.0±10.1cm, weight: 83.3±20.0kg) completed five planned GT trials during preseason baseline testing (Baseline) and on Day 1 post-concussion (Day-1). Healthy control participants (n=19, age: 20.4±1.2years, height: 173.8±8.9cm, weight: 80.2±17.6kg) completed the same trials a week apart. The dependent variables of interest included COP displacement and velocity in the mediolateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) axes during the three phases (braking, transitional, stabilization) of planned GT. There were significant interactions observed in both the braking ML and transitional AP displacement (p=0.042, p=0.030) and velocity (p=0.027, p=0.030). These results suggest a conservative post-concussion motor control strategy during planned GT. Further, these results support the use of dynamic postural control tasks as measures of post-concussion impairments.
authors: Department of Kinesiology & Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, 541 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19716, USA. Electronic address: Jroldham@udel.edu.
authors: Jessie R
authors: JR
authors: Oldham
authors: School of Health and Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460, USA. Electronic address: Bmunkasy@georgiasouthern.edu.
authors: Barry A
authors: BA
authors: Munkasy
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 49 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Suite 126, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. Electronic address: Kelsey.evans@emory.edu.
authors: Kelsey M
authors: KM
authors: Evans
authors: Department of Exercise & Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 311 Woollen Gym, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Electronic address: Wikstrom@unc.edu.
authors: Erik A
authors: EA
authors: Wikstrom
authors: Department of Kinesiology & Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, 541 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19716, USA. Electronic address: Tbuckley@udel.edu.
authors: Thomas A
authors: TA
authors: Buckley
mesh_terms: D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Center of pressure displacements; Center of pressure velocities; Mild traumatic brain injury; Motor control