Hume Patria A, Lewis Gwyn N, Brown Scott R, Rashid Usman, Theadom Alice, Taylor Denise
Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand, School of Sport and Recreation, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
Traumatic Brain Injury Network, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
Sports Med. 2023 Nov;53(11):2257-2266. doi: 10.1007/s40279-023-01864-7. Epub 2023 May 20.
Players in contact sports frequently experience mild traumatic brain (concussion) injuries (TBI). While there are known disruptions to balance following acute head trauma, it is uncertain if sport-related concussion injuries have a lasting impact on postural control.
To assess postural control in retired rugby players in comparison to retired non-contact sport players, and to evaluate any association with self-reported sport-related concussion history.
Using a cross-sectional design, 75 players in the NZ-RugbyHealth study from three sports groups (44 ± 8 years; 24 elite rugby, 30 community rugby, 21 non-contact sport) took part in this study. The SMART EquiTest Balance Master was used to assess participant's ability to make effective use of visual, vestibular and proprioceptive information using standardised tests. Postural sway was also quantified using centre of pressure (COP) path length. The relationship among sports group, sport-related concussion history and postural control was evaluated using mixed regression models while controlling for age and body mass index.
Limited significant differences in balance metrics were found between the sports groups. A statistically significant (p < 0.001) interaction indicated a relationship between COP path length and sport-related concussion history in the most challenging balance condition, such that path length increased as the number of previous sport-related concussions increased.
There was some evidence for a relationship between sport-related concussion recurrence in sports players and postural stability in challenging balance conditions. There was no evidence of impaired balance ability in retired rugby players compared with non-contact sport athletes.
从事接触性运动的运动员经常遭受轻度创伤性脑（脑震荡）损伤（TBI）。虽然已知急性头部创伤后平衡会受到干扰，但与运动相关的脑震荡损伤是否会对姿势控制产生持久影响尚不确定。
评估退役橄榄球运动员与退役非接触性运动运动员的姿势控制情况，并评估其与自我报告的与运动相关的脑震荡病史之间的关联。
采用横断面设计，来自三个运动组（44±8岁；24名精英橄榄球运动员、30名社区橄榄球运动员、21名非接触性运动运动员）的75名新西兰橄榄球健康研究参与者参加了本研究。使用SMART EquiTest平衡测试仪通过标准化测试来评估参与者有效利用视觉、前庭和本体感觉信息的能力。还使用压力中心（COP）路径长度对姿势摆动进行量化。在控制年龄和体重指数的同时，使用混合回归模型评估运动组、与运动相关的脑震荡病史和姿势控制之间的关系。
在运动组之间发现平衡指标的显著差异有限。具有统计学意义（p<0.001）的交互作用表明，在最具挑战性的平衡条件下，COP路径长度与与运动相关的脑震荡病史之间存在关联，即随着既往与运动相关的脑震荡次数增加，路径长度也会增加。
有证据表明运动员中与运动相关的脑震荡复发与具有挑战性的平衡条件下的姿势稳定性之间存在关联。与非接触性运动运动员相比，没有证据表明退役橄榄球运动员的平衡能力受损。
