TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2022//
TI  - Neuromotor changes in participants with a concussion history can be detected with a custom smartphone app
JO  - PLoS one
A1  - Rhea, Christopher K.
A1  - Yamada, Masahiro
A1  - Kuznetsov, Nikita A.
A1  - Jakiela, Jason T.
A1  - LoJacono, Chanel T.
A1  - Ross, Scott E.
A1  - Haran, F. J.
A1  - Bailie, Jason M.
A1  - Wright, W. Geoffrey
SP  - e0278994
EP  - e0278994
VL  - 17
IS  - 12
N2  - Neuromotor dysfunction after a concussion is common, but balance tests used to assess neuromotor dysfunction are typically subjective. Current objective balance tests are either cost- or space-prohibitive, or utilize a static balance protocol, which may mask neuromotor dysfunction due to the simplicity of the task. To address this gap, our team developed an Android-based smartphone app (portable and cost-effective) that uses the sensors in the device (objective) to record movement profiles during a stepping-in-place task (dynamic movement). The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which our custom smartphone app and protocol could discriminate neuromotor behavior between concussed and non-concussed participants. Data were collected at two university laboratories and two military sites. Participants included civilians and Service Members (N = 216) with and without a clinically diagnosed concussion. Kinematic and variability metrics were derived from a thigh angle time series while the participants completed a series of stepping-in-place tasks in three conditions: eyes open, eyes closed, and head shake. We observed that the standard deviation of the mean maximum angular velocity of the thigh was higher in the participants with a concussion history in the eyes closed and head shake conditions of the stepping-in-place task. Consistent with the optimal movement variability hypothesis, we showed that increased movement variability occurs in participants with a concussion history, for which our smartphone app and protocol were sensitive enough to capture.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1932-6203
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278994
ID  - ref1
ER  -