The Long Term Effect of Concussion on Single Leg Hop Stability in Collegiate Athletes
Lauren Bridgewater, SPT; Kinsley Fitzpatrick, SPT; Emily Kempf, SPT; Julia Moore, SPT; Kendra Vanness, SPT
Faculty Mentor: Janice K. Loudon, PT, Ph.D., SCS, ATC, CSCS
Lauren Bridgewater, SPT; Kinsley Fitzpatrick, SPT; Emily Kempf, SPT; Julia Moore, SPT; Kendra Vanness, SPT
Faculty Mentor: Janice K. Loudon, PT, Ph.D., SCS, ATC, CSCS
Institution(s): Rockhurst University Department of Physical Therapy, Kansas City, MO
Purpose/Hypothesis: The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that anywhere from 1.6 million to 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur each year.1 Despite such a high prevalence of concussions in athletes, many of the long standing effects post concussion remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine if past concussion(s) resulted in residual balance and stability deficits while performing a dynamic task.
Subjects: Fourteen athletes (6 males and 8 females) were recruited by word of mouth from Rockhurst University to participate in this study. Participants in the study were between the ages of 18 and 25 years old. Athletic sports included in this study were soccer, lacrosse, and softball. Individuals were included in the experimental group if they reported a concussion occurring at least 6 months from the testing date. Each subject was matched to a non-concussed control subject based upon sport and gender.
Methods/ Materials: Following a dynamic warmup, each athlete performed two tests. The first test was a dynamic hop test onto a Pasco 2-Axis Force Platform where the time to stability in single leg stance (SLS) was recorded. An independent t-test was used to compare time to stability between the concussed group and healthy matched control group. The second test was the time the athlete stood in SLS with eyes closed. A Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used to determine the relationship between time to stability from the hop test and time to stability on the SLS with eyes closed. Alpha level was set at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: Patients with a history of concussion displayed greater instability upon landing in SLS after a dynamic hop test compared to the matched control group. A significant correlation was observed between the two tests: time in SLS with eyes closed and time to stability on the dynamic hop test.
Conclusions: In athletes with a history of concussion time to stability following a dynamic hop test was greater than a healthy matched control group. Additionally, athletes with a history of concussion demonstrated a decreased ability to maintain stability with eyes closed in single leg stance.
Funding Source: No additional sources of funding
Purpose/Hypothesis: The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that anywhere from 1.6 million to 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur each year.1 Despite such a high prevalence of concussions in athletes, many of the long standing effects post concussion remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine if past concussion(s) resulted in residual balance and stability deficits while performing a dynamic task.
Subjects: Fourteen athletes (6 males and 8 females) were recruited by word of mouth from Rockhurst University to participate in this study. Participants in the study were between the ages of 18 and 25 years old. Athletic sports included in this study were soccer, lacrosse, and softball. Individuals were included in the experimental group if they reported a concussion occurring at least 6 months from the testing date. Each subject was matched to a non-concussed control subject based upon sport and gender.
Methods/ Materials: Following a dynamic warmup, each athlete performed two tests. The first test was a dynamic hop test onto a Pasco 2-Axis Force Platform where the time to stability in single leg stance (SLS) was recorded. An independent t-test was used to compare time to stability between the concussed group and healthy matched control group. The second test was the time the athlete stood in SLS with eyes closed. A Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used to determine the relationship between time to stability from the hop test and time to stability on the SLS with eyes closed. Alpha level was set at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: Patients with a history of concussion displayed greater instability upon landing in SLS after a dynamic hop test compared to the matched control group. A significant correlation was observed between the two tests: time in SLS with eyes closed and time to stability on the dynamic hop test.
Conclusions: In athletes with a history of concussion time to stability following a dynamic hop test was greater than a healthy matched control group. Additionally, athletes with a history of concussion demonstrated a decreased ability to maintain stability with eyes closed in single leg stance.
Funding Source: No additional sources of funding