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SMARTPHONE-ASSESSED, OVERGROUND GAIT SPEED IS ASSOCIATED WITH TANDEM GAIT COMPLETION TIME AMONG ADOLESCENTS POSTCONCUSSION

Abstract

Tandem gait (TG) is a commonly used clinical assessment for evaluating motor-cognitive function and dynamic postural control after concussion. Self-selected, walking gait (WG) temporal-distance metrics may provide similar information to TG outcomes with improved ecological validity. PURPOSE: To investigate associations between single-task (ST) and dual-task (DT) TG and WG among adolescents after recent concussion. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of adolescents within 21 days of concussion. Participants completed a timed TG test on a 3-meter path and WG along a 10-meter path for one-minute; both were performed under ST and DT conditions. WG temporal-distance metrics were collected using a novel smartphone application (IMPROVE, Control One LLC). Primary outcomes were ST and DT TG completion time and ST and DT WG speed. We calculated pairwise correlation coefficients (Pearson r) between TG and WG outcomes. We used multivariate linear regression, adjusting for symptom severity, time since concussion, age, and sex to further assess the relationship between TG and WG outcomes. RESULTS: We enrolled and tested 82 participants (15.6 ± 2.1 years, 49% female; 12.7 ± 4.4 days since concussion). In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, there was a significant, weak, negative correlation between ST TG completion time and ST WG speed and a significant, moderate, negative correlation between DT TG completion time and DT WG speed (Figure). CONCLUSION: TG completion time and WG speed were significantly correlated in both ST and DT conditions among adolescents with recent concussion. These results suggest that WG could serve as a useful proxy for TG but may also provide unique information for clinical concussion care. Funding sources: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (R01HD108133) Undergraduate Poster Blitz WINNER

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