Citation

Catena RD, van Donkelaar P, Chou LS. Gait Posture 2007; 25(3): 406-411.

Affiliation

Motion Analysis Laboratory, Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.gaitpost.2006.05.006

PMID

16787746

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of concussion on gait stability when either a cognitive or motor perturbation is imposed. Fourteen individuals suffering from a grade II concussion and 14 matched controls performed a single task of level walking, a continuous sequential question and answer task while walking, and an obstacle-crossing task. Common gait spatial/temporal measurements, whole-body center of mass motion, and center of pressure trajectory were assessed. Concussed individuals adopted a more conservative strategy to maintain gait stability. Some measurements indicating conservative gait were seen during obstacle crossing, but this was most evident during the Q&A task. Concussed individuals also displayed signs of possible instability during the Q&A task. The question and answer task was most sensitive to distinguishing concussed individuals from healthy individuals, supporting the use of a similar dual-task modality in future testing after concussion to determine a proper time for return to activity.

Language: en