RESEARCH SUMMARY: Can balance deficits following a concussion accurately be measured with self-reported symptoms?

Original research title: ‘Self-reported balance status is not a reliable indicator of balance performance in adolescents at one-month post-concussion’ (Rochefort et al., 2017)

Authors: Rochefort, C; Walters-Stewart, C; Aglipay, M; Barrowman, N; Zemek, R; Sveistrup, H.

Year: 2017

Purpose

To determine if self-reported balance symptoms are able to accurately assess balance deficits following a concussion in adolescents.

Takeaway

Balance deficits following a concussion should be assessed using metrics derived from centre of pressure measurements, as opposed to self-reported balance symptom which are unreliable.

Key findings

• One month after being concussed, adolescents continue to suffer balance deficits even when they report no symptoms.
• Balance deficits can be assessed during balance tests using the:

       - Mean Velocity – Anterior-Posterior

       - Mean Velocity – Medial-Lateral

       - Area of CoP Ellipse metrics.

Practical Implications

• Balance deficits are better identified with measures of Centre of Pressure rather than self-reported symptoms following a concussion in adolescents.
• Balance deficits post-concussion can be easily identified with measures of the Centre of Pressure.
• Both single and dual-task balance conditions identify balance deficits in adolescents at one-month post-concussion.

Read the full research paper here.

Objectively assess balance with ForceDecks Centre of Pressure testing

ForceDecks balance tests

ForceDecks includes three balance tests that enable users to measure an individual’s Centre of Pressure (CoP).ForceDecks measures CoP during the below tests:

• Quiet Stand (QSB)
• Single Leg Stand (SLSB)
• Single Leg Range of Stability (SLROSB)

Balance test parameters

Once the balance test is selected, you can set the following test parameters to increase assessment difficultly:

• Eyes open / closed
• Stable / unstable surface Secondary task
• Test length (seconds)

During the test recording, a trace of the CoP for the left and /or right leg is displayed instantly onscreen. Once the test is completed, ForceDecks auto-analyses the results.

Interested in learning more about balance testing with VALD’s ForceDecks?

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