Smartphone Technology to Facilitate Remote Postural Balance Assessment in Acute Concussion Management: Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Impaired balance is a primary symptom of acute concussion.
• Current clinical balance assessments lack sensitivity and rely on subjective interpretation.
• Objective, remote assessment tools are needed for effective concussion management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of using smartphone technology for remote balance assessment in individuals with acute concussion.
• To compare balance performance between healthy controls and individuals with concussion using smartphone-derived motion data.

Main Methods:

• A custom smartphone application was developed for remote data collection.
• Participants performed standardized balance tests (FIRMEO, FIRMEC, FOAMEO, FOAMEC) while motion data was recorded.
• Sway measures (average acceleration magnitude) were calculated from raw acceleration data.

Main Results:

• Individuals with concussion exhibited significantly greater sway than healthy controls on a firm surface.
• In the FOAMEC condition, concussion group showed greater sway in the anterior-posterior direction.
• In the FOAMEO condition, the concussion group demonstrated significantly greater sway in all directions.

Conclusions:

• Remote balance assessment using smartphone technology can effectively differentiate between healthy individuals and those with acute concussion.
• This technology offers a sensitive and objective method for monitoring concussion recovery.
• Smartphone-based balance assessment holds potential for guiding return-to-sport decisions.