Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 3, 2026
A Neuroscientific Approach to the Examination of Concussions in Student-Athletes
Published on: December 8, 2014
Postconcussion Postural Sway Variability Changes in Youth: The Benefit of Structural Variability Analyses
Catherine C Quatman-Yates1, Scott Bonnette, Jason A Hugentobler
1Division of Occupational and Physical Therapy (Drs Quatman-Yates and Hugentobler), Division of Sports Medicine (Drs Quatman-Yates, Hugentobler, and Kiefer), and Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Dr Kurowski), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Division of Pediatrics, College of Medicine (Drs Quatman-Yates and Kiefer), and Center for Cognition, Action, and Perception, Department of Psychology (Mr Bonnette and Drs Quatman-Yates, Kiefer, and Riley), University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio; City College of New York (Mr Médé), New York.
Postural sway variability is a more effective tool than the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) for identifying subtle changes in balance control in youth following a concussion. This finding aids in concussion assessment for young athletes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biomechanics
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Concussion can lead to altered postural control, impacting young athletes' safety and performance.
- Current assessment tools like the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) may not fully capture these subtle changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of postural sway variability in detecting altered postural control in concussed youth.
- To compare postural sway variability with the BESS for concussion assessment in adolescents.
Main Methods:
- Assessed 40 participants (10–16 years old), including 20 healthy and 20 concussed individuals.
- Utilized force plate technology to capture center-of-pressure data for postural sway variability analysis.
- Administered the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) to all participants.
Main Results:
- Postural sway variability metrics showed significant differences between healthy and concussed groups.
- Concussed youth exhibited shorter path length and more regular Sample and Renyi Entropies compared to healthy peers.
- No significant differences were found between groups using the BESS.
Conclusions:
- Postural sway variability demonstrates higher validity than the BESS for detecting post-concussion balance deficits in young athletes.
- This suggests a more sensitive approach for assessing concussion-related neuromotor impairments.
More Related Videos
14:52Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication
Published on: December 11, 2013
07:52Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability
Published on: September 18, 2020