Movement differences persist beyond return to play during walking, jogging and running following sport-related concussion.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to assess changes in gait using lumbar- and thoracic-mounted inertial measurement units during walking, jogging and running tasks performed on natural grassed surfaces for up to four weeks after return to play post-concussion.

DESIGN

This study used a case-control, repeated measures design.

METHODS

A total of 16 medically diagnosed sports-related concussions in 15 team sport athletes were included, with one male having two concussions (14 males (89.2 ± 13.9 kg, 21.7 ± 3.3 years) and one female (62.5 kg, 18 years)), alongside healthy age and sex matched controls (15 males (90.4 ± 12.7 kg, 26.2 ± 5 years) and one female (80 kg, 20 years)). Participants completed three × 40-m walk, jog, and run tasks under set- and self-paced conditions across four testing sessions at: return to run, return to play, and 2 and 4-weeks post return to play. Spatiotemporal gait metrics and sample entropy were quantified. Bayesian mixed-effects models were used to assess differences between groups over time.

RESULTS

Both sites displayed numerous differences across all gait activities, with positive to very strong evidence to suggest increased mediolateral accelerations (thoracic: BF = 51.29-8000, lumbar: BF = 882.80-8000) and poorer rhythmicity in the vertical axis, measured via sample entropy (thoracic: BF = 9.26-8000, lumbar: BF = 38.22-8000). Most gait metrics improved over time. However, vertical sample entropy displayed little to no improvement for walk and jog activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Lumbar- and thoracic-mounted inertial measurement units show differences in gait post-concussion which varies depending on movement velocity.