Capturing concussion related changes in dynamic balance using the Quantified Y Balance Test – a case series of six elite rugby union players

Abstract

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Concussion History and Balance Performance in Adolescent Rugby Union Players

“…Evidence of other concussion studies have reported alterations in nonlinear measures of movement control and balance performance within concussed athletes. 6,23 In contrast to the present study, individuals with a history of concussion presented with reductions in approximate entropy and SEn measures. The observed differences between the current study (eg, greater movement) and previous research (eg, reduced movement) may relate to variations in postconcussion follow-up time.…”

Athletes with a concussion history in the last two years have impairments in dynamic balance performance

“…Importantly, these impairments were not highlighted by traditional clinical assessments, but were captured using inertial sensor technology. These findings are part of a growing body of evidence demonstrating that deficits in sensorimotor function may exist beyond clinical recovery post-concussion, 6,7,39 contributing to an increased risk of future injury. 4 As such, clinicians and rehabilitation specialists should introduce targeted balance training interventions into the return to play process to accelerate sensorimotor control recovery and mitigate the risk of future injury.…”

“…The primary aim of this study was to investigate if a single inertial sensor, similar to those embedded within smartphones, can capture differences in dynamic balance performance in National Collegiate Athletics Association division 1 (NCAA D1) athletes with and without a history of concussion. As sports-related concussion has previously been shown to result in the adoption of a more constrained and predictable movement control strategy, 6,16,17 in the present study, it is hypothesized that the concussive injury would result in the adoption of a more constrained and predictable movement strategy during the YBT reach excursions. Additionally, while research has demonstrated that athletes may be at risk of sustaining future musculoskeletal injury for up to 2 years following a sports-related concussion, 4 little attention has been paid to the effect of time since injury on these persistent sub-clinical deficits.…”

“…4 While the underlying mechanism behind this relationship has yet to be fully uncovered, it has been suggested that the association may be related to the presence of subtle sub-clinical sensorimotor and neurocognitive deficits which persist beyond the resolution of the traditional signs and symptoms of concussion. 5 These concerns are beginning to be substantiated, with research demonstrating that sensorimotor control deficits post-clinical recovery from concussion may be more pronounced during dynamic balance 6 and dual-task situations. 7 Furthermore, research has demonstrated that laboratory-based kinetic and kinematic evaluation during gait and balance tasks can detect deficits in those with a history of concussion, when compared to healthy controls.…”

“…13,14 Early investigations of this approach within the clinical context have shown that it may have value in identifying athletes at a three-times higher relative risk of sustaining a concussion, 15 as well as identifying post-concussion deficits. 6 Therefore, the inertial sensor instrumentation of the YBT may allow for the accessible and objective quantification of sensorimotor performance outside of the laboratory environment, helping to identify individuals who may be at an increased risk of future injury.…”