Abstract
Abstract [Outstanding Trainee Award Winner] Purpose Assessment of postural balance in varsity athletes is essential to managing sport-related concussion. The current study characterizes the relationship between subjective and objective measures of balance in varsity athletes. Methods A total of 208 varsity athletes across 12 sports participated in pre-season testing from June 2019 to January 2020 (no history of concussion= 117; 1+ past concussion= 91). Measures included the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT-5) and the AccuGait force plate. Relationships between objective and subjective balance measures were assessed using correlations, parametric, and non-parametric tests. Results Of the total sample, 9.6% (n=20) endorsed subjective balance issues and 5.3% (n=11) reported subjective dizziness. Those with a history of concussion, endorsed greater total number of symptoms at baseline (M=2.95, SD=4.03) than those without (M=1.90, SD=3.07; p=.04; Cohen’s d=.30). However, there were no differences on subjective or objective balance measures (i.e., total balance error on the MBESS or force plate measures; ps>0.05) between athletes with and without a history of concussion. For those with no history of concussion, total balance errors from the Modified Balance Error Scoring system were significantly associated with force plate metrics in the eyes closed condition (ps<0.05) but not the eyes open condition. These associations were not observed in athletes with history of concussion (ps>0.05). Similarly, no associations were found between subjective balance issues and objective balance metrics. Conclusions Overall, findings suggest poor alignment between subjective and objective balance measures in varsity athletes, regardless of concussion history. Associations were observed across the objective balance measures in those with no history of injury, but not in athletes with a history of concussion.
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