RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The feasibility of romberg quotient in assessment of balance after sport concussion
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP A57
OP A58
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2016-097270.150
VO 51
IS 11
A1 Matti Vartiainen
A1 Anu  Holm
A1 Sanna  Koskinen
A1 Laura  Hokkanen
YR 2017
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/51/11/A57.3.abstract
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.