Article

The purpose of this study was to use centre of pressure (COP) measurements to
determine if static balance deficits had recovered when concussed athletes were
cleared to return to play. Nine concussed varsity football players were matched
with nine teammates who served as controls. Static balance in the
anterior-posterior (A/P) and medial-lateral (M/L) directions was assessed during
quiet stance with eyes open and eyes closed. Results showed that concussed
football players displayed greater A/P COP displacements in the acute phase,
which recovered by RTP; however, COP velocity remained elevated compared to
controls even at RTP, particularly in the A/P direction. This balance control
deficit in the A/P direction may suggest vestibular impairment, likely due to
poor sensorimotor integration of the lateral vestibulospinal tract. The observed
persistence of balance control deficits in concussed football players at RTP are
usually undetected by traditional assessments because the current study used
higher-order COP analysis. Future RTP balance measures may want to incorporate
higher-order measures of balance.
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Langue : ANGLAIS