TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2017//
TI  - Clinical utility of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 3 (SCAT3) tandem-gait test in high school athletes
JO  - Journal of athletic training
A1  - Santo, Ashley
A1  - Lynall, Robert C.
A1  - Guskiewicz, Kevin M.
A1  - Mihalik, Jason P.
SP  - 1096
EP  - 1100
VL  - 52
IS  - 12
N2  - CONTEXT:   Dynamic balance during functional movement may provide important clinical information after concussion. The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool version 3 (SCAT3) includes a timed tandem-gait test (heel-to-toe walking) administered with a pass-fail scoring system. Minimal evidence supports inclusion of the tandem-gait test in the SCAT3, especially in high school athletes. <br><br>OBJECTIVE:   To determine (1) the percentage of healthy high school athletes who passed (best trial ≤14 seconds) the tandem-gait test at baseline, (2) the association between sex and test performance (pass versus fail), and (3) the relationship among sex, age, height, and tandem-gait test score. <br><br>DESIGN:   Cross-sectional study. Setting   High school sports medicine center. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS:   Two hundred athletes from 4 high schools (age = 15.8 ± 1.2 years, height = 170.3 ± 10.3 cm, weight = 64.8 ± 14.5 kg). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S):   Healthy participants completed 4 trials of the SCAT3 tandem gait test and a demographic questionnaire. Outcome measures were passing rate at baseline on the tandem-gait test and tandem-gait test score (time). <br><br>RESULTS:   Overall, 24.5% (49/200) of participants passed the test. sex and performance were an associated(χ2 = 15.15, P <.001), with a passing rate of 38.6% (32/83) for males and 14.5% (17/117) for females. The regression model including predictor variables of sex and height, with the outcome variable of tandem-gait test score and time, was significant (R2 = 0.20, P <.01). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS:   Our findings suggest that the tandem-gait test had a high false-positive rate in high school athletes. Given that more than 75% of healthy participants failed the tandem-gait test, the 14-second cutoff appears to have limited clinical utility in the adolescent population. Functional movement deficits after concussion need to be accounted for, but the 14-second cutoff for the SCAT3 tandem gait test does not appear to be an ideal way to assess these deficits in high school athletes.    Keywords: American football   <p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1062-6050
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-52.11.26
ID  - ref1
ER  -