Static and dynamic single leg postural control performance during dual-task paradigms

ABSTRACTCombining dynamic postural control assessments and cognitive tasks may give clinicians a more accurate indication of postural control under sport-like conditions compared to single-task assessments. We examined postural control, cognitive and squatting performance of healthy individuals during static and dynamic postural control assessments in single- and dual-task paradigms. Thirty participants (female = 22, male = 8; age = 20.8 ± 1.6 years, height = 157.9 ± 13.0 cm, mass = 67.8 ± 20.6 kg) completed single-leg stance and single-leg squat assessments on a force plate individually (single-task) and concurrently (dual-task) with two cognitive assessments, a modified Stroop test and the Brooks Spatial Memory Test. Outcomes included centre of pressure speed, 95% confidence ellipse, squat depth and speed and cognitive test measures (percentage of correct answers and reaction time). Postural control performance varied between postural control assessments and testing paradigms. Participants did not squat..

Descriptive Epidemiology of Non–Time-Loss Injuries in Collegiate and High School Student-Athletes

CONTEXT: Research on non-time-loss (NTL) injuries, which result in less than 24 hours of restriction from participation, is limited. OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of NTL injuries among collegiate and high school student-athletes. DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. SETTING: Aggregate injury and exposure data collected from a convenience sample of National College Athletic Association varsity teams and 147 high schools in 26 states. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Collegiate and high school student-athletes participating in men's and boys' baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, soccer, and wrestling and women's and girls' basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and volleyball during the 2009-2010 through 2013-2014 and the 2011-2012 through 2013-2014 academic years, respectively, participated. Collegiate student-athletes participating in men's and women's ice hockey were also included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Injury data from the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program and the National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network were analyzed. Injury counts, rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs), and rate ratios were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: A total of 11 899 and 30 122 NTL injuries were reported in collegiate and high school student-athletes, respectively. The proportion of NTL injuries in high school student-athletes (80.3%) was 1.61 times greater than that of collegiate student-athletes (49.9%; 95% CI = 1.59, 1.63). The NTL injury rate in high school student-athletes (8.75/1000 athlete-exposures [AEs]) was 2.18 times greater than that of collegiate student-athletes (4.02/1000 AEs; 95% CI = 2.13, 2.22). Men's ice hockey (5.27/1000 AEs) and boys' football (11.94/1000 AEs) had the highest NTL injury rates among collegiate and high school athletes, respectively. Commonly injured body parts in collegiate and high school student-athletes were the hip/thigh/upper leg (17.5%) and hand/wrist (18.2%), respectively. At both levels, contusions, sprains, and strains were the most frequent diagnoses. Contact with another player was the most cited injury mechanism (college = 38.0%, high school = 46.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Non-time-loss injuries compose large proportions of collegiate and high school sports injuries. However, the NTL injury rate was higher in high school than in collegiate student-athletes. Tracking NTL injuries will help to better describe the breadth of injuries sustained by athletes and managed by athletic trainers

Concussion-Assessment and -Management Techniques Used by Athletic Trainers

Understanding concussion-assessmment and -management practices that athletic trainers (ATs) currently use will allow clinicians to identify potential strategies for enhancing the quality of care provided to patients

Concussion-Related Protocols and Preparticipation Assessments Used for Incoming Student-Athletes in National Collegiate Athletic Association Member Institutions

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) legislation requires that member institutions have policies to guide the recognition and management of sport-related concussions. Identifying the nature of these policies and the mechanisms of their implementation can help identify areas of needed improvement

Estimating Contact Exposure in Football Using the Head Impact Exposure Estimate

Over the past decade, there has been significant debate regarding the effect of cumulative subconcussive head impacts on short and long-term neurological impairment. This debate remains unresolved, because valid epidemiological estimates of athletes' total contact exposure are lacking. We present a measure to estimate the total hours of contact exposure in football over the majority of an athlete's lifespan. Through a structured oral interview, former football players provided information related to primary position played and participation in games and practice contacts during the pre-season, regular season, and post-season of each year of their high school, college, and professional football careers. Spring football for college was also included. We calculated contact exposure estimates for 64 former football players (n=32 college football only, n=32 professional and college football). The head impact exposure estimate (HIEE) discriminated between individuals who stopped after college football, and individuals who played professional football (p<0.001). The HIEE measure was independent of concussion history (p=0.82). Estimating total hours of contact exposure may allow for the detection of differences between individuals with variation in subconcussive impacts, regardless of concussion history. This measure is valuable for the surveillance of subconcussive impacts and their associated potential negative effects

Nonlinear complexity analysis of brain fMRI signals in schizophrenia

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The Effect of Divided Attention on Running Biomechanics in Recently Concussed Collegiate Athletes

Our purpose was to examine running and walking gait biomechanics in recently concussed athletes and explore the effect of an added cognitive task on biomechanics. We recruited recently concussed collegiate athletes who completed two testing sessions: within 24-72 hours of full clearance and 1 week post-clearance. The participants’ biomechanics were analyzed under four conditions: (1) walking alone (single task, ST), (2) walking while simultaneously completing simple mental tasks (dual task, DT), (3) running ST, and (4) running DT. Participants completed 8 walking trials (4 ST and 4 DT), followed by 8 running trials (4 ST and 4 DT). RunscribeTM wearable shoe sensors (Scribe Labs, Inc., Half Moon Bay, CA, USA) were utilized to assess pace (min/km), step rate (steps/min), stride length (m), and estimated power (W). Participants’ running pace was 30% faster during ST compared to DT and 19% faster during walking ST compared to DT. Running step rate was 3% faster during ST compared to DT but was 15% faster during ST compared to DT while walking. Stride length was longer in ST compared to DT during running (17%) and walking (4%) trials. Power was reduced in DT during running (16%) and walking (14%) relative to ST. Gait deficits were likely due to added cognitive demand during DT and added physical demand of a complex motor control activity during running trials. The added cognitive demands may better reflect the sport environment rather than gait alone. Additional research is warranted to continue studying gait deviations following concussive injury

High School Football Injury Rates and Services by Athletic Trainer Employment Status

Context Reported injury rates and services in sports injury surveillance may be influenced by the employment setting of the certified athletic trainers (ATs) reporting these data. Objective To determine whether injury rates and the average number of AT services per injury in high school football varied by AT employment status. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting We used data from the National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network and surveyed ATs about their employment setting. Patients or Other Participants Forty-four responding ATs (37.9% of all National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network participants) worked at high schools with football programs and were included in this study. Fourteen ATs were full-time employees of the high school, and 30 ATs were employed as outreach ATs (ie, full-time and part-time ATs from nearby clinics, hospitals, and graduate school programs). Main Outcome Measure(s) We calculated injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures and average number of AT services per injury. Results Reported injury rates and services per injury were greater among full-time school employees compared with outreach ATs. However, injury rates did not differ when restricted to time-loss injuries only. Conclusions Our findings suggest that ATs who are full-time school employees may be able to identify and care for more patients with injuries