Abstract/Description/Artist Statement
Background:
Sport-related concussions remain a significant concern in collegiate athletics, accounting for approximately 6% of sport-related injuries annually. Athletic trainers play a critical role in identifying concussion-related impairments, particularly deficits in balance and postural control. Dynamic balance impairments may persist beyond symptom resolution and negatively affect performance and functional mobility. The Complex Tandem Gait (CTG) test, a component of visio-vestibular assessment, evaluates postural control under varying sensory conditions and may detect lingering deficits associated with concussion history.
Objective:
To examine gender differences in baseline dynamic balance performance during complex tandem gait tasks among Division I athletes.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 591 Division I collegiate athletes from a single institution. Participants were grouped by sex to evaluate differences in balance performance. All athletes completed standard pre-participation assessments, including health history, cognitive testing, static balance testing, symptom evaluation, and CTG assessment. The CTG included four conditions: forward eyes open, forward eyes closed, backward eyes open, and backward eyes closed. Outcomes included postural sway and number of steps off the line. Independent t-tests and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were performed.
Results:
The sample included 238 female and 342 male athletes. MANOVA revealed no significant effect of gender on CTG performance across conditions (Pillai’s Trace = .012, F(8,1154) = 0.899, p = .517), with gender accounting for less than 1% of variance.
Conclusion:
Baseline CTG performance did not differ by gender, supporting its use in individualized concussion management and return-to-play decisions.
Word Count: 236
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Thomas Campbell
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Email
trcampbe@odu.edu
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Athletic Training
College/School Affiliation
Ellmer College of Health Sciences
Student Level Group
Graduate/Professional
Presentation Type
Poster
Included in
Sex Differences in Complex Tandem Gait Performance Among Division I Collegiate Athletes
Background:
Sport-related concussions remain a significant concern in collegiate athletics, accounting for approximately 6% of sport-related injuries annually. Athletic trainers play a critical role in identifying concussion-related impairments, particularly deficits in balance and postural control. Dynamic balance impairments may persist beyond symptom resolution and negatively affect performance and functional mobility. The Complex Tandem Gait (CTG) test, a component of visio-vestibular assessment, evaluates postural control under varying sensory conditions and may detect lingering deficits associated with concussion history.
Objective:
To examine gender differences in baseline dynamic balance performance during complex tandem gait tasks among Division I athletes.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 591 Division I collegiate athletes from a single institution. Participants were grouped by sex to evaluate differences in balance performance. All athletes completed standard pre-participation assessments, including health history, cognitive testing, static balance testing, symptom evaluation, and CTG assessment. The CTG included four conditions: forward eyes open, forward eyes closed, backward eyes open, and backward eyes closed. Outcomes included postural sway and number of steps off the line. Independent t-tests and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were performed.
Results:
The sample included 238 female and 342 male athletes. MANOVA revealed no significant effect of gender on CTG performance across conditions (Pillai’s Trace = .012, F(8,1154) = 0.899, p = .517), with gender accounting for less than 1% of variance.
Conclusion:
Baseline CTG performance did not differ by gender, supporting its use in individualized concussion management and return-to-play decisions.
Word Count: 236