@article{ref1,
title="Dual-task gait recovery after concussion among female and male collegiate athletes",
journal="Medicine and science in sports and exercise",
year="2020",
author="Howell, David R. and Oldham, Jessie and Lanois, Corey and Koerte, Inga and Lin, Alexander P. and Berkstresser, Brant and Wang, Francis and Meehan, William P.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="PURPOSE: Few studies have investigated recovery between sexes using objective outcome measures. Our purpose was to examine the independent association between biological sex and recovery of post-concussion gait among collegiate athletes. <br><br>METHODS: We evaluated participants with a diagnosed concussion <7 days post-injury, and approximately 1.5 months and 3.5 months post-injury. Participants completed a single/dual-task gait evaluation and symptom inventory. During dual-task trials, they completed a mental task (backwards subtraction, spelling, or month recitation). The primary outcome measure was height-adjusted gait velocity recovery, defined as achieving normal gait velocity using established values: >0.56 and >0.50 gait velocity (m·s)/height (m) under single and dual-task conditions, respectively. We used a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model to identify associations between sex and dual-task recovery, controlling for age, concussion history, symptom severity, and loss of consciousness at the time of injury. <br><br>RESULTS: Ninety-four individuals participated in the study: 47 (50%) were female athletes (mean age=20.1, SD=1.3 years) and 47 (50%) were male athletes (mean age=20.3, SD=1.3 years). Sex was not independently associated with height-adjusted single-task gait velocity recovery after controlling for potential confounders (hazard ratio=1.62, 95% confidence interval=0.87, 3.01). However, male sex was independently associated with longer dual-task gait recovery time after controlling for potential confounders (hazard ratio=2.43, 95% confidence interval=1.11, 5.35). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Male athletes required a longer duration of time after concussion to achieve dual-task gait recovery than female athletes. Thus, functional dual-task abilities after concussion may be affected differentially by sex, and should be accounted for within individualized concussion management strategies.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0195-9131",
doi="10.1249/MSS.0000000000002225",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002225"
}