Research Summary: Validity of Lower Extremity Postural Sway for Baseline Concussion Testing

Pontillo M, Hines S, Sennett B. (2020). Validity of Lower Extremity Postural Sway for Baseline Concussion Testing. Int J Sports Exerc Med, 6(4):171, DOI: 10.23937/2469-5718/1510171.

Key Takeaways

• Balance Scan and King-Devick results were normally distributed; BESS results showed a floor effect

• Balance Scan significantly correlated to BESS test subsections, BESS total score, and KD Average

“Given the even distribution and lower extremity sway’s significant correlation to both BESS and K-D, Sparta Science software offers a new and effective method to perform concussion testing that is supported by previous testing modalities.”

Population: 96 healthy Division I varsity athletes.

Summary

The questions covered:

• What is the distribution of lower extremity postural sway variables in the athletic population?

• What is the relationship between clinical and biomechanical baseline concussion testing?

Introduction: Clinical tests such as the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) and King-Devick (KD) are utilized frequently in the athletic population for baseline testing, and additionally as return to play criteria. However, the sensitivity of the BESS has been questioned, as the distribution of scores for an uninjured population demonstrates a floor effect, and substantial inter-rater variability exists. Biomechanical testing is able to detect smaller magnitudes of change, but has not been validated against these clinical tests. The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of lower extremity postural sway variables in the athletic population, and to determine the relationship between clinical and biomechanical baseline concussion testing.

Methods: 96 healthy Division I collegiate athletes were tested for both biomechanical and clinical concussion tests (41 females). Biomechanical testing consisted of single leg stance, performed blindfolded, for 2, 20 second trials each lower extremity, on a force plate system connected to a dedicated computer with commercially available software (Sparta Science). Center of pressure data was quantified by velocity and frequency of motion (lower extremity (LE) sway) and converted to T-score, with a higher T-score indicating better stability (decreased sway). Data was averaged across the two trials by side (left, right). Baseline concussion testing (BESS and KD) were obtained from the athletes’ files. The BESS involves 3 stances (double- legged, single-legged, and tandem) and 2 surfaces (firm and foam); the score is the number of operationally defined errors, with a lower score indicating better balance. The KD test is an assessment of rapid number naming which requires the athletes to quickly read a series of numbers on three test cards, with a higher score indicating better performance (faster speed). Two trials were performed, and the average of the trials was used for statistical analysis.

Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics assessed if the data was normally distributed. T-tests were used to determine if differences existed between sides for biomechanical testing (left versus right). Spearman’s rho (r) correlations were used to determine the relationship between clinical and biomechanical test variables. Significance was set to P = 0.05.

Results: LE sway and KD was normally distributed; BESS showed a floor effect. No difference was seen between left and right lower extremities for biomechanical testing (P >0.05). LE sway was significantly correlated to BESS test subsections (single leg stance, foam: r=-0.30, 95% CI: -0.47,-0.11 and foam total score: r=-0.30; 95% CI: -0.47,-0.11), BESS total score (r=-0.31; 95%CI:-0.48,-0.12), and KD average (r=-0.38; 95% CI: -0.54,-0.19). All correlations were medium in magnitude.

Discussion and Conclusion: The lower extremity sway scores demonstrate validity when compared to clinical concussion tests. The distribution of sway scores in the athletic population indicates that this test may be better suited to detecting subtle differences in changes, and overcomes the limitations of the conventional clinical evaluations.

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