Title
The Influence of Sport-Related Concussion on Lower Extremity Injury Risk: A Review of Current Return-to-Play Practices and Clinical Implications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-9-2020
Publication Title
International Journal of Exercise Science
Volume
13
Issue
3
First page number:
873
Last page number:
889
Abstract
Sport-related concussions (SRCs) are now classified as a major health concern affecting athletes across all sporting levels, with recent evidence suggesting upwards of 3.8 million SRCs occur each year. Multiple injury surveillance datasets have recently determined that athletes post-SRC, compared to non-concussed counterparts, are at greater risk for lower extremity (LE) injury beyond the resolution of traditional SRC assessment batteries. However, it is presently uncertain if common clinical practices (symptom reporting, neuropsychological (NP) examination, and static postural control analysis) can determine athletes at risk for LE injury following an SRC. A comprehensive review of the literature determined that these tools may not reveal subtle cognitive and neuromuscular deficits that lead to subsequent LE injury during dynamic sporting tasks. Current return-to-play (RTP) protocols should consider clarifying the addition of specific objective locomotor analysis, such as gait tasks and sport-specific maneuvers, to determine the risk of LE injury after an athlete has sustained an SRC.
Keywords
Brain Injury; Biomechanics; Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Musculoskeletal Injury
Disciplines
Kinesiology | Life Sciences
Language
English
Repository Citation
Avedesian, J. M.,
Covassin, T.,
Dufek, J. S.
(2020).
The Influence of Sport-Related Concussion on Lower Extremity Injury Risk: A Review of Current Return-to-Play Practices and Clinical Implications.
International Journal of Exercise Science, 13(3),
873-889.