RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Quantitative assessment of sensorimotor dysfunction and recovery using robotics in athletes sustaining an acute sport-related 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 e1
OP e1
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2012-092101.32
VO 47
IS 5
A1 Brian Benson
A1 Jennifer Semrau
A1 Chantel Debert
A1 Stephen Scott
A1 Willem Meeuwisse
A1 Sean Dukelow
YR 2013
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/47/5/e1.26.abstract
AB Objective To determine the utility of a novel robotic assessment tool to aid with acute sport concussion assessment and management. Design Prospective case series. Setting 2011–2012 athletic season. Subjects 313 male and female elite athletes (mean age: 21 years). Outcome Measures Baseline and post-concussion (physician diagnosed) robotic assessments of neurological function using the KINARM end-point robotic device in five different tasks. Results Twenty-nine of the 313 athletes (9.3%) completing a baseline clinical and robotic assessment in 2011 sustained an acute sport concussion during the 2011–2012 season. Many of the concussed athletes declined in performance on the post-concussion robotic testing (<72 h post-injury). Twenty-two concussed athletes demonstrated increases in the contraction parameter of the multi-target position sense task (p=0.005). Nineteen demonstrated slowing of their movement speed in a bimanual interactive task requiring subjects to hit and avoid various virtual shapes (left hand p=0.03; right hand p=0.09). Twenty-two of the concussed athletes demonstrated increased dwell time/movement time when performing an automated version of the Trails B test (p=0.002). In general, performance trended back towards baseline in the weeks following the concussion. Conclusions The clinical use of robotics in post-concussion assessment shows promise in objectively quantifying degradation of sensorimotor performance that is not always evident in existing clinical tools. Further analyses is warranted including the development of baseline sensorimotor normative data for high risk athletic populations (with reliable change indexes) and comparing the sensitivity of this device with other standardised measures of clinical concussion recovery (ie, symptoms, neurological examination, balance, and neurocognitive). Acknowledgments University of Calgary Sport Medicine Centre BKIN Technologies, Queen's University Own the Podium, Canada Jim Smith, Calgary, Alberta Canadian Sport Centre Calgary University of Calgary, Edge High School, and SAIT Athletic Therapists, Physiotherapists, and Coaches Hotchkiss Brain Institute Sarah Snow & Kerri Downer.