title: Development of a Portable Tool for Screening Neuromotor Sequelae From Repetitive Low-Level Blast Exposure.
abstract: Blast exposure is a prevalent cause of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in military personnel in combat. However, it is more common for a service member to be exposed to a low-level blast (LLB) that does not result in a clinically diagnosable mTBI. Recent research suggests that repetitive LLB exposure can result in symptomology similar to symptoms observed after mTBI. This manuscript reports on the use of an Android-based smartphone application (AccWalker app) to capture changes in neuromotor functioning after blast exposure. Active duty U.S. Navy personnel (N = 59) performed a stepping-in-place task before repetitive LLB exposure (heavy weapons training), and again immediately after, 24 hours after, and 72 to 96 hours after the completion of the training. The AccWalker app revealed that there are changes in neuromotor functioning after LLB exposure (slower self-selected movement pace and increased stride time variability) in participants who experienced neurocognitive decline. These data suggest that neurocognitive and neuromotor decline can occur after repeated LLB exposure.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 1400 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC 27412.
authors.forename: Christopher K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Rhea
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 1400 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC 27412.
authors.forename: Nikita A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kuznetsov
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 1400 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC 27412.
authors.forename: Scott E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 1400 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC 27412.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 1400 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC 27412.
authors.forename: Jason T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Jakiela
authors.affiliation: Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, 1335 East-West Highway #600, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bailie
authors.affiliation: SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific, 53560 Hull Street, San Diego, CA 92152.
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Yanagi
authors.affiliation: Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory, Naval Submarine Base New London, Box #900, Groton, CT 06349.
authors.forename: F Jay
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Haran
authors.affiliation: Temple University, 1801 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122.
authors.forename: W Geoffrey
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Temple University, 1801 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122.
authors.forename: Rebecca K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Robins
authors.affiliation: Naval Special Warfare Group ONE, 2000 Trident Way, San Diego, CA 92155.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Sargent
authors.affiliation: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.
authors.forename: Joshua L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Duckworth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D000073216:Mental Status and Dementia Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D063731:Mobile Applications / Q000592:standards*; D015995:Prevalence; D013997:Time Factors