Coralie Rochefort1, Coren Walters-Stewart1, Mary Aglipay2, Nick Barrowman2, Roger Zemek3, Heidi Sveistrup4. 1. University of Ottawa, School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Canada. 2. Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Canada. 3. Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Canada; Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada. 4. University of Ottawa, School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Canada; University of Ottawa, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Canada; Bruyère Research Institute, Canada. Electronic address: Heidi.Sveistrup@uottawa.ca.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine if self-reported balance symptoms can be used as a proxy for measures of the center of pressure (COP) to identify balance deficits in a group of concussed adolescents. DESIGN: Case-control. METHODS: Thirteen adolescents 1-month post-concussion who reported ongoing balance problems (Balance+), 20 adolescent 1-month post-concussion who reported no balance problems (Balance-), and 30 non-injured adolescents (control) completed a series of balance tests. Participants completed two 2-min trials standing on a Nintendo Wii Balance Board™ during which the COP under their feet was recorded: i) double-leg stance, eyes open; ii) double-leg stance, eyes closed. Participants also completed a dual-task condition combining a double-leg stance and a Stroop Colour-word test. RESULTS: Participants in both the Balance+ and Balance- group swayed over a larger ellipse area compared to the control group while completing the Eyes Closed (Balance+, p=0.002; Balance-, p=0.002) and Dual-Task (Balance+, p=0.001; Balance-, p=0.004) conditions and performed the Dual-Task condition with faster medio-lateral velocity (Balance+, p=0.003; Balance-, p=0.009). The participants in the Balance- group also swayed over a larger ellipse area compared to the control group while completing the Eyes Open condition (p=0.005). No significant differences were identified between the Balance+ and Balance- groups. CONCLUSIONS: At 1-month post-concussion, adolescents demonstrated balance deficits compared to non-injured adolescents regardless of whether they reported balance problems. These results suggest that self-reported balance status might not be an accurate reflection of balance performance following a concussion in adolescents.
OBJECTIVES: To determine if self-reported balance symptoms can be used as a proxy for measures of the center of pressure (COP) to identify balance deficits in a group of concussed adolescents. DESIGN: Case-control. METHODS: Thirteen adolescents 1-month post-concussion who reported ongoing balance problems (Balance+), 20 adolescent 1-month post-concussion who reported no balance problems (Balance-), and 30 non-injured adolescents (control) completed a series of balance tests. Participants completed two 2-min trials standing on a Nintendo Wii Balance Board™ during which the COP under their feet was recorded: i) double-leg stance, eyes open; ii) double-leg stance, eyes closed. Participants also completed a dual-task condition combining a double-leg stance and a Stroop Colour-word test. RESULTS:Participants in both the Balance+ and Balance- group swayed over a larger ellipse area compared to the control group while completing the Eyes Closed (Balance+, p=0.002; Balance-, p=0.002) and Dual-Task (Balance+, p=0.001; Balance-, p=0.004) conditions and performed the Dual-Task condition with faster medio-lateral velocity (Balance+, p=0.003; Balance-, p=0.009). The participants in the Balance- group also swayed over a larger ellipse area compared to the control group while completing the Eyes Open condition (p=0.005). No significant differences were identified between the Balance+ and Balance- groups. CONCLUSIONS: At 1-month post-concussion, adolescents demonstrated balance deficits compared to non-injured adolescents regardless of whether they reported balance problems. These results suggest that self-reported balance status might not be an accurate reflection of balance performance following a concussion in adolescents.
Authors: Graham D Cochrane; Jennifer B Christy; Anwar Almutairi; Claudio Busettini; Hendrik K Kits van Heyningen; Katherine K Weise; Mark W Swanson; Sara J Gould Journal: J Head Trauma Rehabil Date: 2021 Jul-Aug 01 Impact factor: 2.710