The Effects of Concussion History on Balance Performance in Collegiate Football Players
Department
Applied Health Sciences
Advisor
Leah Jackson
Document Type
Event
Version
Metadata Only
Abstract
PURPOSE: Sport-related concussions have been proven to damage both cerebral sensory and motor pathways. Disruption of information transmission leads to delays, or errors, in the brain’s ability to interpret, integrate, and execute signals relating to balance and coordination, thereby elevating the risk of subsequent injuries. Recent research has indicated that a concussion may lead to prolonged, subclinical disruptions in these sensorimotor pathways resulting in long-term impairments in both balance and athletic performance. This study aims to investigate whether a prior history of sport-related concussions impacts static and dynamic balance performance of collegiate football players. METHODS: 26 collegiate football players (21.2 + 1.7 years), both with (n=13) and without (n=13) a history of clinically diagnosed concussion, were recruited. Subjects completed an informed consent, a health history, and balance testing. The Y-balance test (YBT) was used for dynamic balance, including attention to the total number of errors scored, and the Balance Error Scoring Scale test (BESS), performed on the Biodex Biosway, for static balance. RESULTS: An independent t-test was run using SPSS V28 software for data analysis. No significant difference was found for the YBT composite scores between groups. However, anterior reach (p = 0.003) and the total number of errors (p = 0.036) revealed significance. As for the Biosway test, significance was found within composite scores between groups (p = 0.010), along with the individual test items of single leg stance with eyes closed (p =0.034) and tandem stance with eyes closed (p = 0.030). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that a history of sports-related concussion may have long-term implications on the ability to execute adequate neuromuscular control of the lower extremities with specific balance activities. The data represented with the anterior reach YBT and single leg/tandem stances of the BESS test implies that a diagnosed concussion may negatively impact sensorimotor functionality longer than clinicians may realize. Initial post-concussion balance assessment is a required component of the return-to-play process, however, the results from this study may indicate long-term balance assessment for athletes may be equally important
Recommended Citation
Braesch, Evan; Montgomery, Cade; and Jackson, Leah, "The Effects of Concussion History on Balance Performance in Collegiate Football Players" (2024). Science Symposium. 3.
https://spark.bethel.edu/science_symposium/spring2024/schedule2024/3
The Effects of Concussion History on Balance Performance in Collegiate Football Players
PURPOSE: Sport-related concussions have been proven to damage both cerebral sensory and motor pathways. Disruption of information transmission leads to delays, or errors, in the brain’s ability to interpret, integrate, and execute signals relating to balance and coordination, thereby elevating the risk of subsequent injuries. Recent research has indicated that a concussion may lead to prolonged, subclinical disruptions in these sensorimotor pathways resulting in long-term impairments in both balance and athletic performance. This study aims to investigate whether a prior history of sport-related concussions impacts static and dynamic balance performance of collegiate football players. METHODS: 26 collegiate football players (21.2 + 1.7 years), both with (n=13) and without (n=13) a history of clinically diagnosed concussion, were recruited. Subjects completed an informed consent, a health history, and balance testing. The Y-balance test (YBT) was used for dynamic balance, including attention to the total number of errors scored, and the Balance Error Scoring Scale test (BESS), performed on the Biodex Biosway, for static balance. RESULTS: An independent t-test was run using SPSS V28 software for data analysis. No significant difference was found for the YBT composite scores between groups. However, anterior reach (p = 0.003) and the total number of errors (p = 0.036) revealed significance. As for the Biosway test, significance was found within composite scores between groups (p = 0.010), along with the individual test items of single leg stance with eyes closed (p =0.034) and tandem stance with eyes closed (p = 0.030). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that a history of sports-related concussion may have long-term implications on the ability to execute adequate neuromuscular control of the lower extremities with specific balance activities. The data represented with the anterior reach YBT and single leg/tandem stances of the BESS test implies that a diagnosed concussion may negatively impact sensorimotor functionality longer than clinicians may realize. Initial post-concussion balance assessment is a required component of the return-to-play process, however, the results from this study may indicate long-term balance assessment for athletes may be equally important