Concussion is associated with altered preparatory postural adjustments during gait initiation

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomechanics
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Gait initiation (GI) assesses supraspinal motor control.
• GI has not been previously studied in concussion patients.
• Concussion can lead to motor control deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify preparatory postural adjustments (PPAs) during gait initiation in concussion patients.
• To compare gait initiation performance between concussion patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Fifteen concussion patients and fifteen age/sex-matched controls performed gait initiation tasks.
• Center of pressure (COP) and center of mass (COM) trajectories were measured using force plates and inertial sensors.
• Participants used dominant and non-dominant limbs as stepping and support limbs.

Main Results:

• Concussed patients showed significantly decreased COP excursion on their dominant foot (stepping and support limbs) compared to controls.
• Reduced posterior displacement of the center of mass was observed in concussion patients.
• These differences were significant in both sagittal and frontal planes.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with concussion exhibit altered gait initiation.
• Deficits in preparatory postural adjustments during gait initiation may indicate supraspinal motor control impairments post-concussion.
• Gait initiation is a sensitive measure for detecting motor control issues after concussion.