Browsing by Author "Hartman, Zachary"

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    IS DUAL TASK ABILITY FULLY RECOVERED IN ATHLETES WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE CONCUSSION RETURN-TO-PLAY PROTOCOL?
    (2023-04-20) Hartman, Zachary; Marquis, Gabrielle; Siegel, Sondra
    Purpose: This study investigated deficits in dual task ability in collegiate athletes with acute concussions who have completed the return-to-play protocol. While previous research has demonstrated the persistence of deficits using standard cognitive tests, this study specifically addressed performance in a contextually relevant, sports-related challenge. Methods: Concussed and non-concussed college athletes completed a demographics and history questionnaire, and were assessed for balance using the Balance Error Scoring System test. For the novel test, gait parameters were measured under three conditions using an instrumented gait mat. Conditions included: walking at a comfortable pace, walking while watching a sport-related video and performing a cognitive task, and walking while watching the video and performing the cognitive and a secondary physical task. The cognitive task was also performed by the participant in a standing position. Response accuracy on the cognitive task was recorded for all conditions. Outcome Measures: Measures included gait speed, cadence, stance percentage, step variability, and response accuracy for the cognitive task. Results: The control group demonstrated better performance than the experimental group with comfortable gait and with gait plus the cognitive task, with significant differences in stride width percentage, percentage of stance time, and cadence. There were no apparent differences between the two groups for the condition of gait combined with cognitive and physical tasks. There were no significant differences in response accuracy between the groups; participants demonstrated near 100% accuracy under all conditions. Conclusions: Greater impairments in gait were seen in all participants as the cognitive and physical task became more challenging, but accuracy in the cognitive task was not sacrificed in either group. Gait parameters measured during a sport-related cognitive task may be sufficient to discern a difference in performance between concussed and non-concussed athletes and may be more relevant to a return-to-play decision than standard cognitive tests.