Reaction Time and Joint Kinematics During Functional Movement in Recently Concussed Individuals

Objective: To compare movement reaction time and joint kinematics between athletes with recent concussion and matched control recreational athletes during 3 functional tasks. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Laboratory. Participants: College-aged recreational athletes (N=30) comprising 2 groups (15 participants each): (1) recent concussion group (median time since concussion, 126d; range, 28–432d) and (2) age- and sex-matched control group with no recent concussions. Interventions: We investigated movement reaction time and joint kinematics during 3 tasks: (1) jump landing, (2) anticipated cut, and (3) unanticipated cut. Main Outcome Measures: Reaction time and reaction time cost (jump landing reaction time–cut reaction time/jump landing reaction time×100%), along with trunk, hip, and knee joint angles in the sagittal and frontal planes at initial ground contact. Results: There were no reaction time between-group differences, but the control group displayed improved reaction time cost (10.7%) during anticipated cutting compared with the concussed group (0.8%; P=.030). The control group displayed less trunk flexion than the concussed group during the nondominant anticipated cut (5.1° difference; P=.022). There were no other kinematic between-group differences (P≥.079). Conclusions: We observed subtle reaction time and kinematic differences between individuals with recent concussion and those without concussion more than a month after return to activity after concussion. The clinical interpretation of these findings remains unclear, but may have future implications for postconcussion management and rehabilitation

Functional balance assessment in recreational college-aged individuals with a concussion history

Objectives: Despite evidence for increased musculoskeletal injury after concussion recovery, there is a lack of dynamic balance assessments that could inform management and research into this increased injury risk post-concussion. Our purpose was to identify tandem gait dynamic balance deficits in recreational athletes with a concussion history within the past 18-months compared to matched controls. Design: Cross-sectional, laboratory study. Methods: Fifteen participants with a concussion history (age: 19.7 ± 0.9 years; 9 females; median time since concussion 126 days, range 28–432 days), and 15 matched controls (19.7 ± 1.6 years; 9 females) with no recent concussion history participated. We measured center-of-pressure (COP) outcomes (velocity, path length, speed, dual-task cost) under 4 tandem gait conditions: (1) tandem gait, (2) tandem gait, eyes closed, (3) tandem gait, eyes open, cognitive distraction, and (4) tandem gait, eyes closed, cognitive distraction. Results: The concussion history group demonstrated slower tandem gait velocity compared to the control group (4.0 cm/s difference), thus velocity was used as a covariate when analyzing COP path length and speed. The concussion history group (23.5%) demonstrated greater COP speed dual-task cost than the control group (16.3%) during the eyes closed dual-task condition. No other comparisons were statistically significant. Conclusions: There may be subtle dynamic balance differences during tandem gait that are detectable after return-to-activity following concussion, but the clinical significance of these findings is unclear. Longitudinal investigations should identify acute movement deficits in varying visual and cognitive scenarios after concussion in comparison with recovery on traditional concussion assessment tools while also recording musculoskeletal injury outcomes

Terrestrial habitat requirements of nesting freshwater turtles

Because particular life history traits affect species vulnerability to development pressures, cross-species summaries of life history traits are useful for generating management guidelines. Conservation of aquatic turtles, many members of which are regionally or globally imperiled, requires knowing the extent of upland habitat used for nesting. Therefore, we compiled distances that nests and gravid females had been observed from wetlands. Based on records of \u3e 8000 nests and gravid female records compiled for 31 species in the United States and Canada, the distances that encompass 95% of nests vary dramatically among genera and populations, from just 8 m for Malaclemys to nearly 1400 m for Trachemys. Widths of core areas to encompass varying fractions of nesting populations (based on mean maxima across all genera) were estimated as: 50% coverage = 93 m, 75% = 154 m, 90% = 198 m, 95% = 232 m, 100% = 942 m. Approximately 6–98 m is required to encompass each consecutive 10% segment of a nesting population up to 90% coverage; thereafter, ca. 424 m is required to encompass the remaining 10%. Many genera require modest terrestrial areas (\u3c200 m zones) for 95% nest coverage (Actinemys, Apalone, Chelydra, Chrysemys, Clemmys, Glyptemys, Graptemys, Macrochelys, Malaclemys, Pseudemys, Sternotherus), whereas other genera require larger zones (Deirochelys, Emydoidea, Kinosternon, Trachemys). Our results represent planning targets for conserving sufficient areas of uplands around wetlands to ensure protection of turtle nesting sites, migrating adult female turtles, and dispersing turtle hatchlings

Respectful Terminology in Archaeological Compliance

Archaeological compliance is defined by state and federal legislation and the constrained, precise language in which it is written. Rules and policies operationalize the law but provide some flexibility in its interpretation and implementation. The pronounced use of "legal"and "scientific"language in archaeological compliance can be considered insensitive or offensive to some tribal members when discussing the disposition and care of the remains and belongings of their ancestors. The language we use constructs our reality and defines how we interpret our interactions of the lived experience. It is therefore necessary to revise the language employed in archaeological compliance to ensure that it reflects the values of the communities that these laws define to determine treatment and ultimate disposition of their ancestral remains and belongings. This article describes and encourages the use of a respectful terminology, developed in conjunction with compliance professionals and tribal representatives, to restructure the language we use and redefine our interactions as more considerate of tribal concerns for repatriation. Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for American Archaeology.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]