Assessment of the Wii Basic Balance Test in measuring postural deficits post-concussion
Journal Title: Journal of Clinical and Translational Research - Year 2016, Vol 2, Issue 4
Abstract
Background and Aim: To evaluate the Wii Basic Balance Test (WBBT), as a tool for detecting postural instability in athletes with concussions. Methods: Seventy-nine healthy physically active controls (NORM) (mean age 21.23 ± 1.78), and fifty-six athletes with concussions (CONC) (mean age 19.39 ± 2.145) participated in this study. All participants performed the Wii Basic Balance Test, which requires the participants to shift weight mediolaterally to maintain a red bar within a blue area denoted on the screen for three seconds during set levels of difficulty. CONC were included in the study within 24-48 hours of the initial concussion injury. Seven one-way ANOVAs assessed differences for each (1) Mean total number of WBBT Levels completed (TL), (2) Mean total seconds to complete all WBBT Level (TT), (3) Time to complete Level 1 (L1), (4) Time to complete Level 2 (L2), (5) Time to complete Level 3 (L3), (6) Time to complete Level 4 (L4), (7) Time to complete Level 5 (L5). Results: CONC completed significantly fewer Levels of the WBBT (p=0.032) when compared to NORM. Athletes with Concussions took a significantly longer time to complete L1 (p=0.002) when compared to CONC. Post-hoc Chi-Square analysis determined a significantly greater (p=0.015) proportion (39%) of CONC successfully completed WBBT L5 when compared to the proportion (19%) of CONC. Follow up ROC curves revealed an Sn = 0.392 and an Sp = 0.821 for TL with a cutoff value of 4 levels, Sn=0.875 and an Sp = 0.253 for L1 with a cutoff value of 4.4 seconds, and Sn = 0.804 and an Sp = 0.392 for those who successfully completed the WBBT L5. Conclusions: WBBT could be a low cost object method of assessing postural instability within 24-48 hours post-concussion. Relevance for patients: This data could provide health providers with an alternative method to measure the presence of postural instability post-concussion injury.
Authors and Affiliations
Nicholas G Murray, Eileen Fernandez, Anthony P Salvatore, Rebecca J Reed-Jones
Higher blood pressure and lower cardiac vagal activity in obese young individuals in supine and seated position
Background: Obesity triggers alterations in hemodynamic and autonomic control. There are few studies that investigate the effects of overweight and obesity in early adulthood on hemodynamic and autonomic variables. Aim:...
High-intensity, but not moderate-intensity, exercise increases post-exercise rate of fat oxidation in type 2 diabetics
Background: Aerobic exercise is recommended for glycemic and weight control in type 2 diabetes (T2D), but exercise intensity that increase post-exercise fat oxidation has not been established yet. It is expected that hig...
Site-specific pharmaco-laser therapy: A novel treatment modality for refractory port wine stains
Despite extensive efforts to optimize laser therapy, i.e., the current gold standard treatment, a majority of port wine stain (PWS) patients responds suboptimally to laser therapy. This paper describes the niceties of a...
Limitations of Quantitative Blush Evaluator (QuBE) as myocardial perfusion assessment method on digital coronary angiograms
Background and Aim: Quantitative Blush Evaluator (QuBE) is a software application that allows quantifying myocardial perfusion in coronary angiograms after a percutaneous coronary intervention. QuBE has some limitations...
Consent2Share: an integrated broad consenting process for re-contacting potential study subjects
Background and Aim: Obtaining sufficient subjects into research studies is an ongoing barrier to conducting clinical research. Privacy rules add to the complexity of identifying qualified study subjects. The process desc...