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Br J Sports Med 2008;42:1011-1013 doi:10.1136/bjsm.2007.041665
  • Short report

The effect of exercise on motor performance tasks used in the neurological assessment of sports-related concussion

  1. A G Schneiders1,
  2. S J Sullivan1,
  3. P R McCrory2,
  4. A Gray3,
  5. S Maruthayanar1,
  6. P Singh1,
  7. P Ranhotigammage1,
  8. R Van der Salm1
  1. 1
    Centre for Physiotherapy Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
  2. 2
    Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  3. 3
    Department of Preventive & Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
  1. Anthony G Schneiders, Centre for Physiotherapy Research, School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; tony.schneiders{at}otago.ac.nz
  • Accepted 7 February 2008
  • Published Online First 28 February 2008

Abstract

Sports-related concussion is assessed using both cognitive and motor performance tasks. There is limited understanding of how exercise affects these measures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of moderate-intensity exercise on three selected measures of motor performance.

A repeated measures design was used to compare baseline motor performance scores with post-exercise scores with an exercise intervention modelled on the physiological demands of a team sport. 30 physically active subjects performed timed motor performance tasks: Finger-to-Nose (FTN), Tandem Gait (TG) and Single Leg Stance (SLS). The tasks were administered twice pre-exercise and twice post-exercise.

FTN, TG and SLS demonstrated high test–retest reliability (ICC values >0.8). 15 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise caused a significant improvement in FTN (T2 = 2.66 (SD 0.38), T3 = 2.49 (0.32); p<0.001) and TG (T2 = 13.08 (2.84), T3 = 12.23 (2.22); p = 0.001), but not in SLS (T2 = 5.94 (4.99), T3 = 5.91 (5.54); p = 0.507).

Improvement in the performance of motor tasks after exercise has implications for the immediate assessment of sports-related concussion, given that measures of motor performance are utilised in concussion assessment instruments.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None declared.

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