Concussion History and Time Since Concussion Do not Influence Static and Dynamic Balance in Collegiate Athletes.
BACKGROUND
Dynamic balance deficits exist following a concussion, sometimes years after injury. However, clinicians lack practical tools for assessing dynamic balance.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if there are significant differences in static and dynamic balance performance between individuals with and without a history of concussion.


METHODS
Cross sectional.


METHODS
Clinical research laboratory.


METHODS
45 collegiate student-athletes with a history of concussion (23 males, 22 females; age = 20.0 ± 1.4 y; height = 175.8 ± 11.6 cm; mass = 76.4 ± 19.2 kg) and 45 matched controls with no history of concussion (23 males, 22 females; age = 20.0 ± 1.3 y; height = 178.8 ± 13.2 cm; mass = 75.7 ± 18.2 kg).


METHODS
Participants completed a static (Balance Error Scoring System) and dynamic (Y Balance Test-Lower Quarter) balance assessment.


METHODS
A composite score was calculated from the mean normalized Y Balance Test-Lower Quarter reach distances. Firm, foam, and overall errors were counted during the Balance Error Scoring System by a single reliable rater. One-way ANOVAs were used to compare balance performance between groups. Pearson's correlations were performed to determine the relationship between the time since the most recent concussion and balance performance. A Bonferonni adjusted a priori α < 0.025 was used for all analyses.


RESULTS
Static and dynamic balance performance did not significantly differ between groups. No significant correlation was found between the time since the most recent concussion and balance performance.


CONCLUSIONS
Collegiate athletes with a history of concussion do not present with static or dynamic balance deficits when measured using clinical assessments. More research is needed to determine whether the Y Balance Test-Lower Quarter is sensitive to acute balance deficits following concussion.
Eric D
ED
Merritt
Cathleen N
CN
Brown
Robin M
RM
Queen
Kathy J
KJ
Simpson
Julianne D
JD
Schmidt
D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D013997:Time Factors; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
Balance Error Scoring System; Y Balance Test; head trauma; mild traumatic brain injury; posture