Sport-related concussion adopt a more conservative approach to straight path walking and turning during tandem gait.

Background: It is currently unknown what specific neuronal deficits influence postural instability following SRC; however, the modulation of postural control relies heavily on the appropriate integration of sensory information from the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory system. It is possible symptom provocation of vestibular or ocular function is related to unsteady gait patterns during tandem gait.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in temporal and center of pressure (CoP) metrics during discrete events of instrumented tandem gait (iTG) among those with sport-related concussion (SRC) compared to healthy controls. Secondarily, this study attempted to evaluate the relationship between iTG CoP metrics and the Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) Exam.

Materials And Methods: 30 collegiate athletes with SRC and 30 healthy controls completed three single task (ST) iTG trials on an instrumented walkway and the VOMS. All individuals with SRC were assessed within 24-48 h post-injury while all controls were measured during pre-participation physicals. CoP metrics in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions and time to completion were evaluated during the first, turn and second pass of iTG between groups. VOMS score was correlated to the CoP metrics across the discrete events.

Results: Athletes with SRC took longer to complete tandem gait (<0.001) along with the first pass, second pass but not the turn when compared to the control group. SRC had slower velocity in the AP direction during both the first (<0.001) and second pass (<0.001) with increased postural sway in the ML direction during the first pass (=0.014). During the turn, athletes with SRC had postural sway in the ML direction (=0.008). Finally, VOMS score was weakly negatively related to CoP velocity in the AP direction during first (=-0.39) and second (r=-0.36) pass while being weakly positively related to postural sway during the turn (=-0.30).

Conclusions: Athletes with SRC adopted a more conservative walking pattern and the presence of vestibular and/or ocular symptoms influence the ability to perform heel-to-toe walking.

Relevance For Patients: Individuals with SRC will walk slower during heel-to-toe walking and move more in the ML direction with great movement in the ML direction while en pointe turning. This may increase given the total amount of vestibular or vision symptoms following the SRC.