Post-Acute Concussion-Related Differences in Neuromotor Control Measured Using a Low-Cost Movement Assessment System:...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Athletes cleared prematurely after concussion face higher risks of re-injury and musculoskeletal issues.
• Objective, low-cost tools are needed to detect persistent neuromotor deficits post-concussion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the Mizzou Point-of-care Assessment System (MPASS) for classifying individuals in the post-acute concussion phase.
• To determine the feasibility of MPASS measures in creating a discriminant model for concussion assessment.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 10 participants with recent concussion and 12 healthy controls.
• MPASS recorded kinematics, kinetics, and reaction time during walking, balance, and reaction tasks.
• Principal component analysis (PCA) reduced data dimensionality for discriminant analysis.

Main Results:

• A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) model using four principal components achieved 82% accuracy.
• The model demonstrated 80% sensitivity and 83% specificity in classifying participants.
• Statistical significance (p = 0.007) was achieved in group classification.

Conclusions:

• MPASS provides a feasible framework for assessing neuromotor control deficits after concussion.
• This approach can aid in differentiating between healthy individuals and those in the post-acute concussion phase.
• The findings support the development of multidimensional, clinically applicable movement assessment tools.