Background

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.

Aim

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusion

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.

中文翻译：

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新西兰橄榄球健康研究：前橄榄球联盟和非接触运动运动员目前的姿势控制能力

背景

接触性运动的运动员经常会遭受轻度脑震荡（TBI）。虽然已知急性头部外伤后平衡会受到破坏，但尚不确定运动相关的脑震荡损伤是否会对姿势控制产生持久影响。

目的

与退役的非接触式运动运动员相比，评估退役橄榄球运动员的姿势控制能力，并评估与自我报告的运动相关脑震荡史的任何关联。

方法

NZ-RugbyHealth研究中采用横断面设计，来自三个运动组的 75 名运动员（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）参加了这项研究。SMART EquiTest ^® Balance Master 用于通过标准化测试评估参与者有效利用视觉、前庭和本体感觉信息的能力。姿势摇摆也使用压力中心 (COP) 路径长度进行量化。使用混合回归模型评估运动组、运动相关脑震荡史和姿势控制之间的关系，同时控制年龄和体重指数。

结果

各运动组之间的平衡指标存在有限的显着差异。统计上显着 ( p  < 0.001) 的交互作用表明，在最具挑战性的平衡条件下，COP 路径长度与运动相关脑震荡历史之间存在关系，使得路径长度随着先前运动相关脑震荡次数的增加而增加。

结论

有一些证据表明，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系。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。