- Title
- A prospective investigation of changes in the sensorimotor system following sports concussion. An exploratory study
- Creator
- Hides, Julie A.; Franettovich Smith, Melinda M.; Mendis, M. Dilani; Smith, Nigel A.; Cooper, Andrew J.; Treleaven, Julia; Leung, Felix; Gardner, Andrew J.; McCrory, Paul; Low Choy, Nancy L.
- Relation
- Musculoskeletal Science and Practice Vol. 29, p. 7-19
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2017.02.003
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2017
- Description
- Background: Sports concussion is a risk for players involved in high impact, collision sports. Post-concussion, the majority of symptoms subside within 7–10 days, but can persist in 10–20% of athletes. Understanding the effects of sports concussion on sensorimotor systems could inform physiotherapy treatment. Objective: To explore changes in sensorimotor function in the acute phase following sports concussion. Design: Prospective cohort study. Methods: Fifty-four players from elite rugby union and league teams were assessed at the start of the playing season. Players who sustained a concussion were assessed three to five days later. Measures included assessments of balance (sway velocity), vestibular system function (vestibular ocular reflex gain; right-left asymmetry), cervical proprioception (joint position error) and trunk muscle size and function. Results: During the playing season, 14 post-concussion assessments were performed within 3–5 days of injury. Significantly decreased sway velocity and increased size/contraction of trunk muscles, were identified. Whilst not significant overall, large inter-individual variation of test results for cervical proprioception and the vestibular system was observed. Limitations: The number of players who sustained a concussion was not large, but numbers were comparable with other studies in this field. There was missing baseline data for vestibular and cervical proprioception testing for some players. Conclusions: Preliminary findings post-concussion suggest an altered balance strategy and trunk muscle control with splinting/over-holding requiring consideration as part of the development of appropriate physiotherapy management strategies.
- Subject
- motor control; vestibular system; balance; cervical proprioception; trunk muscles; rugby
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1350018
- Identifier
- uon:30476
- Identifier
- ISSN:2468-8630
- Language
- eng
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