Evidence of a conservative gait strategy in athletes with a history of concussions

• Published in: Journal of sport and health science 2016-12, Vol.5 (4), p.417-423
• Main Authors: Buckley, Thomas A., Vallabhajosula, Srikant, Oldham, Jessie R., Munkasy, Barry A., Evans, Kelsey M., Krazeise, David A., Ketcham, Caroline J., Hall, Eric E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Balance; Brain injury; Gait performance; Locomotion; Mild traumatic; Postural control; Postural stability; Regular paper; Variability
• ISSN: 2095-2546; 2213-2961
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2015.03.010

Background：A history of 3 or more concussions is frequently associated with numerous short-and long-term neuropathologies.Impairments in postural control are a known acute consequence of concussion;however,limited evidence exists on the effects of multiple concussions on gait.The purpose of this study was to assess gait stepping characteristics in collegiate aged student-athletes based on concussion history.Methods：There were 63 participants divided into 3 even groups based on concussion history：≥3 concussions,1–2 concussions,and 0 concussion.All participants completed 10 trials of gait on a 4.9 m instrumented walkway.The dependent variables of interest included both gait stepping characteristics（step velocity,length,and width,double support time,and the percentage of the gait cycle in stance） and coefficien of variability（CoV） measures（step length,time,and width）.The gait stepping characteristics were compared firs with a MANOVA with follow-up 1-way ANOVAs and Tukey post hoc tests as appropriate.The Co V measures were compared with 1-way ANOVAs and Tukey post hoc tests.Results：There were main effects for group for step velocity,length,width,and double support time.Overall,the 0 concussion group displayed typical healthy young gait parameters and performed significant y better than either concussion group.The 0 concussion group had a significant y greater step length Co V,but there were no differences in the step time or width Co V.Conclusion：This findin provides evidence of subtle impairments in postural control during gait among individuals with prior history of concussion which could be an early indicator of future neurological deficiencies The limited difference in the variability measures is consistent with prior static stance studies and could suggest the individuals constrain their motor systems to reduce variability.Taken together,these findi gs suggest a conservative gait strategy which is adopted by individuals with a history of concussions.