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The aim of this study was to assess whether a diagnosis of concussion given at a Veterans Healthcare Administration secondary traumatic brain injury assessment impacted either posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology or other variables at the time veterans sought treatment for PTSD. This retrospective study compared 61 male veterans with a history of military-related concussion and military-related PTSD to 83 male veterans with military-related PTSD but without a diagnosis of military-related concussion. There were no significant between-group differences in PTSD symptomatology. However, the cohort with a history of military concussion endorsed decreased ability to cope with PTSD symptoms, increased problems with physical health, and more pain complaints. If replicated, these results may guide the design of more effective interventions for veterans who receive diagnoses of PTSD and concussion.

Activity monitors can be used to objectively assess patient progress and to quantitatively measure the impact of new technologies on function. The purpose of this study was to characterize the accuracy of the step counter, GT1M, when worn on the waist and ankle location in persons using a prosthetic limb to ambulate. Potential subjects were given the opportunity to enroll while at their usual clinical prosthetic checkup. The subject population consisted of nine males (two transfemoral and seven transtibial amputations). Accuracy of GT1M was determined by measuring the percent difference between visually observed steps and the steps recorded by the GT1M. Statistical significance was achieved if the p value was Յ0.05. The accuracy of the GT1M when worn on the ankle (90.2% mean Ϯ 16.3% SD) was greater than when worn on the waist (63.5% mean Ϯ 39.2% SD) as determined with a paired t-test (p ϭ 0.028). Linear regression demonstrated that inaccuracies of the GT1M highly correlated to use of a walking aid (r 2 ϭ0.789, p ϭ 0.001). Therefore, the GT1M demonstrated the highest accuracy when worn on the prosthetic ankle and when ambulating over level surfaces without the use of a walking aid (97.8% Ϯ 4.0%). Percent accuracy was as low as 10% in a participant who did not meet these criteria. If planning to use GT1M to quantify walking in persons with lower limb amputation, validation of the GT1M on the subjects and walking terrain to be studied is recommended. (J Prosthet Orthot. 2009;21:208 -214.)

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