Hyperactive behavior of athletes with post-concussion symptoms

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ObjectiveObservations of hyperactive (/restless, agitated) behavior as a consequence of sport related concussions (SRC) are inconclusive as hypoactivity has also commonly been described. This might be grounded in the fact that the movement behavior of athletes has not been systematically investigated during standardized settings and with objective methods of movement analysis.BackgroundThus, we investigated the contradiction whether symptoms after SRC are characterized by a hyper- or hypoactive movement behavior experimentally.Design/MethodsThree matched groups were investigated: 14 symptomatic and 14 asymptomatic athletes with a concussion; and 12 non-concussed athletes. Four certified raters analyzed with the NEUROGES the Activation and Contact incl. Rest/Pose categories as reliable measures of hypo/hyperactivity of (hand) / body movement activity that were displayed during a videotaped standardized anamnesis protocol.ResultsSymptomatic athletes spend significantly more time with act apart hand movements and less time with closed rest positions when compared to non-concussed athletes. Post-concussion symptom (PCS) scores positively correlate with act apart hand movements. A linear regression analysis revealed that act apart hand movements significantly predict the PCS score.ConclusionsIn line with previous descriptions of hyperactivity after SRC, athletes with increased symptoms after mTBI in sports behave hyperactive and restless when analyzed systematically. Because agitated/restless behavior was previously described in the concussed athletes who were later diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), we suggest that future diagnoses should concern the detailed analysis of the movement activity as a potential behavioral marker of sport related concussions.