Abstract
Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) is the persistence of concussion symptoms (i.e., somatic, psychological and cognitive) beyond the normal 7-14 days of recovery. Balance control impairments have been revealed in recently concussed symptomatic and asymptomatic athletes. However, it is unknown whether individuals with PCS also express balance control impairments. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of PCS on balance control during a single-support lower-limb reaching task. Ten individuals with PCS and 10 age-, gender- and activity-matched non-concussed individuals (CONT) participated in the study. Participants stood in single support for approximately 40s in front of three FitLights positioned at 0? or 30? on either side of the midline. The reaching task required participants to reach their free limb out to deactivate any Green light (Go) and inhibit movement when any Red light (No-Go) illuminated. Participants performed 10 trials (5 times for each limb), each trial consisted of each light illuminating 10 times in random order and colour. PCS displayed increased medial-lateral (M/L) COP displacement (M=0.94 0.21cm) than CONT (M=0.77 0.07cm), t(17)=-2.44, p=.03, d=1.09). As well, PCS demonstrated increased trunk pitch RMS (M=2.71 0.73?) compared to CONT (M=1.98 0.51?), t(17)=-2.56, p=0.02, d=1.16). These results suggest that individuals with PCS have poor balance control orthogonal to the direction of movement suggesting deficits in the somatosensory system, which resulted in compensatory adjustments at the trunk to complete the forward reaching task. Overall, the findings suggest that individuals with PCS demonstrate persistent balance impairments in challenging situations.Acknowledgments: NSERC