@article{ref1,
title="University football players, postural stability, and concussions",
journal="Journal of strength and conditioning research",
year="2015",
author="Graves, B. Sue",
volume="30",
number="2",
pages="579-583",
abstract="Concussion in football athletes is certainly more prevalent and has potentially serious outcomes. With current concerns and increasing return-to-play issues, additional assessment focus is needed. Division 1 college American football athletes, from 18 to 20.9 y (n=177, 19.7+1.2 y, 182.3+ 4.5 cm, 97.3+10.6 kg), prior to fall practice, over a period of three years, underwent baseline postural stability testing (Sensory Organization Test, NeuroCom). Individuals, who were diagnosed with a concussion (headache, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, and/or loss of consciousness) during practice or actual competition (n=15, 18.9±.9 y, 181.8±2.5 cm, 86.6±3.6 kg), underwent serial evaluation after injury, 24 hours post-concussion. As soon as the player was considered asymptomatic, the test was completed on the 1 and 14 day. A control group of non-injured males (n=15, 19.1±.4 y, 178.2±3.2 cm, 78.6±2.1 kg) were tested for the same time frame. This particular study was only one part of the total evaluation conducted for the concussed athlete's return-to-play. <br><br>RESULTS indicated the concussion group had a statistically significant (p=.037) change from their baseline SOT score and the control group (p=.025). This change remained significant until day 14 of post-testing. These data indicate the SOT, when available, may be a positive, additional assessment of concussed college-aged football players. Professionals, when dealing with concussion in competitive sports, do need to continue to work together, but awareness of SOT assessments may also contribute to the return-to-play decisions.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1064-8011",
doi="10.1519/JSC.0000000000001124",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001124"
}