Non-linear assessment of motor variability following concussion

Document Type

Presentation

Journal/Book Title/Conference

2016 annual Big Sky Athletic Training Sports Medicine Conference

Publisher

Big Sky Athletic Training Sports Medicine Conference

Location

Big Sky, MT

Publication Date

2-1-2016

Abstract

Purpose To quantify differences in nonlinear aspects of performance on a seated visual-motor tracking task between clinically asymptomatic males and females with and without a self-reported mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) history. Methods Seventy-three individuals with a self-reported concussion history (age: 21.40 ± 2.25 years) and 75 without (age: 21.50 ± 2.00 years) completed the visual-motor tracking task. Participants pressed an index finger against a force sensor, tracing a line across a computer screen (visual-motor tracking). The produced signal's root-mean-square error (RMSE), sample entropy (SampEn, a measure of regularity), and average power (AvP) between 0 and 12 Hz were calculated. Results Males with a history of 0 or 1 concussion had greater RMSE (worse performance) than females with 0 (p <0.0001) and 1 concussion (p = 0.052). Additionally, females with 2+ concussions exhibited lower SampEn than females with no history (p = 0.001) or a history of 1 concussion (p = 0.026). Finally, females with 2+ concussions had lower 8–12 Hz AvP than males with 2+ concussions (p = 0.031). Few differences were observed in the male participants. Conclusion Females with a self-reported history of multiple concussions exhibited lower SampEn in the visual-motor tracking-task force output structure as compared to those with no reported history of concussion and their male counterparts. Lower SampEn and lower power between 8 and 12 Hz indicated persistent impairment in visual processing and feed-forward or predictive motor control systems.

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