PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Matti Vartiainen
AU  - Anu  Holm
AU  - Sanna  Koskinen
AU  - Laura  Hokkanen
TI  - The feasibility of romberg quotient in assessment of balance after sport concussion
AID  - 10.1136/bjsports-2016-097270.150
DP  - 2017 Jun 01
TA  - British Journal of Sports Medicine
PG  - A57--A58
VI  - 51
IP  - 11
4099  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/51/11/A57.3.short
4100  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/51/11/A57.3.full
SO  - Br J Sports Med2017 Jun 01; 51
AB  - Objective To evaluate the feasibility of a computerised balance test and a calculated Romberg Quotient in acute recognition of concussionDesign Prospective pilot study.Setting Finnish national ice hockey league.Participants Four teams participated in the study (n=113, male). Nine athletes who sustained a head/neck-related injury and control group of seven non-concussed volunteer players were followed.Study procedure All participants underwent the baseline assessment before season. The study period was one hockey season 2009- 2010. All game related concussions during this time were recorded. Post-concussion assessment was administered within 36 hours after injury.Outcome measures Balance was measured using a portable computerised platform. Romberg test stances were used on hard surface and soft foam. The participants stood still for 30 seconds with a closed stance. A relative balance change, Romberg Quotient (RQ), was assessed by calculating the ratio between eyes open, and eyes closed parameters. RQ was computed for sway length, area and velocity in each conditionMain results Concussed and control group did not differ in balance measures at baseline. At post-injury, soft foam measures showed a difference between groups in sway length (U=5.0, p=0.005) and velocity (U=5.0, p=0.005). Among the concussed, RQ mean in sway velocity was 2.02 (1.7–2.3, 95% confidence limits) at baseline and 2.14 (1.9–2.4) post-injuryConclusions Alternating between different visual and/or somatosensory conditions in balance testing brings out the effect of concussions. RQ is easy to calculate regardless of the measurement systems or scales and can be used as valid tool in sport concussion measurementCompeting interests None.