The Effects of Subconcussive Impacts on Postural Stability

<p><strong>Context:</strong> The effects of concussions on postural stability, both acutely and chronically, have been well studied and noted. However, whether subconcussive impacts lead to these same impairments is not heavily investigated. <strong>Objectives:</strong> The primary purpose of this study was to examine the effects of subconcussive impacts on postural stability in NCAA Division I football athletes. We hypothesized that all participants would show declines in postural stability following a single fall season. We also hypothesized that there would be no significant differences between groups from pre- to post-season measures. The secondary purpose was to predict deficits in postural stability based on cumulative linear acceleration, cumulative rotational acceleration, total number of impacts, and Head Impact Criterion (HIC). We hypothesized that the total number of impacts and cumulative linear acceleration would predict significant changes in postural stability. <strong>Design:</strong> This was a prospective longitudinal study. <strong>Setting:</strong> The Georgia Southern University Biomechanics Laboratory. <strong>Participants:</strong> 15 NCAA Division 1 collegiate football players were instrumented with the Head Impact Telemetry System (HITS) and 13 non-contact athletes with a fall season were recruited for control participants. <strong>Intervention:</strong> The 2014 fall football season. <strong>Results:</strong> No significant deficits in postural stability were measured over the course of a single season. There was an increase in the anteroposterior direction for left leg stance in both groups and in the mediolateral direction for double leg stance in SUBC over time. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The results of this study show no deficits across a single athletic season. However, caution should still be taken as there is literature supporting late-life detriments due to brain trauma</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Kinesiology (M.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis (open access)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Health and Kinesiology

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Shiflett, Eric

Contributors dc:contributor

• Barry Joyner
• Thomas Buckley
• Nicholas Murray

• ETD
• subconcussive
• approximate entropy
• gait
• postural stability
• head impact telemetry system
• balance error scoring system
• Medical Sciences
• Sports Sciences

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/1274

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-2334