The purpose of this study is to investigate sensory reweighting during postural control tasks in patients with a history of sports-related concussions and to provide a basis for future interventions targeting postural control in individuals with concussions. The goal is to reduce their risk of further injury and to improve athletic performance in sports with a high incidence of concussions.
42 patients (26 females) aged 18 to 35 years (23.0±4.33 years), with a history of sports-related concussions (20.3±11.89 months), and 42 healthy subjects (24 females) in the same age group (22.9±1.83 years) underwent assessment through computerized dynamic posturography using the Sensory Organization Test (SOT). By comparing scores under different posture conditions, the study obtained the SOT Composite Score (SOTCS), somatosensory score (SOM), visual score (VIS), vestibular score (VEST), and visual preference score (PREF). SOM, VIS, and VEST represent the participants’ abilities to utilize somatosensory, vision, and vestibular sensations to maintain balance. PREF reflects the participants’ capacity to disregard incorrect visual information in a visually challenging environment.
Compared to the healthy group, the SOTCS of the concussion history group was 77.9±7.77, significantly lower than the healthy group’s 83.0±6.36, t=3.303, p=0.001. Similarly, the VIS in the concussion history group was 80.6±9.86, considerably lower than the healthy group’s 85.3±9.15, t=2.248, p=0.027. Additionally, the VEST in the concussion history group was 75.8±10.90, significantly lower than the healthy group's 83.3±8.74, t=2.077, p=0.041. However, SOM and PREF did not show significant differences between the concussion history group and the healthy group.
Although the participants with a history of concussion underwent postural control tests at a longer time after the injury, their overall postural control ability was still affected to some extent. This was demonstrated by abnormal postural control when using visual and vestibular senses in postural control tasks, while somatosensory and visual preference abilities were not significantly affected.
The study suggests that patients with a history of sports-related concussions experience long-term impairments in visual and vestibular processing, affecting postural control. This implies that physiotherapy should focus on rehabilitation targeting the visual and vestibular systems with personalized balance training programs.
postural control
sensory organization test
