The Association between Dual-Task Gait after Concussion and Prolonged Symptom Duration

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Persistent postconcussion symptoms can result from impaired gait.
• The prognostic value of gait measurements for predicting symptom duration is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if dual-task gait performance is independently associated with persistent concussion symptoms (>28 days) in athletes.

Main Methods:

• Sixty athletes with sport-related concussions underwent gait assessments (single/dual-task) within 10 days of injury.
• Participants were monitored for symptom resolution, and logistic regression analyzed dual-task gait's association with symptom duration (>28 days).
• Covariates included gender, age, symptom severity, injury-to-examination time, and concussion history.

Main Results:

• 28% of athletes experienced symptoms lasting longer than 28 days.
• Greater dual-task costs in gait speed and cadence were observed in athletes with prolonged symptoms (p < 0.05).
• Increased dual-task gait speed costs were independently associated with prolonged symptom duration (aOR = 0.908).

Conclusions:

• Dual-task gait assessments may offer prognostic value in identifying athletes at risk for prolonged concussion recovery.
• Quantitative gait analysis, particularly under dual-task conditions, can be a valuable clinical tool for concussion management.