State of balance, functional mobility and biomechanical parameters of walking in men aged 25-42 years with the consequences of a combat injury

Abstract

The main problem of a traumatic brain injury acquired during combat operations is a complication that develops after a while. The consequences of TBI are severe and include violations not only of the physical condition, but also of the psychosomatic sphere. Postural instability or imbalance is a common symptom in people with traumatic brain injury. The purpose of our work was to investigate and evaluate the state of walking locomotion in men aged 25-42 years with long-term consequences of a closed traumatic brain injury in the late long-term period. Under observation were 38 men aged 25-42 years with long-term consequences of a closed traumatic brain injury injury. The cause of disability was wounds and contusions associated with military operations. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: Gr.1 (n=20) and Gr.2 (n=18). Clinical picture of all patients Gr. 1 and Gr. 2 was the same. All the studied patients had the main neurological syndromes that limited their vital activity: vegetative disorders and discoordination of the vestibular genesis. The average balance indicator in the standing position after the Bohannon test testified to the instability to more maintain one's standing position, independently on both legs, in both groups studied. Assessment of vestibular coordination according to the "TUG" test in both groups of trainees indicated a statistically significant decrease in the data obtained compared to the standard indicator (р<0,05). All the subjects showed a decrease in all parameters of support ability and stability when standing. Fluctuations of the common center of pressure in the sagittal and frontal planes acquired significant differences compared to the standard value (р<0,05). The primary study of the dynamic characteristics of walking in patients of both groups indicated a deterioration in the main indicators of locomotion, namely the pace and speed of walking, as well as walking disorders in the form of temporal, kinematic and dynamic asymmetries in the studied Gr. 1 and Gr. 2 (р<0,05). That is, during the ascertaining experiment, we received confirmation of a decrease in all walking locomotions in men with complications after a combat injury. To restore walking locomotion, it is necessary to develop and implement vestibular rehabilitation programs.