Posturing Responses in Concussions Sustained by Elite American Football Players

in International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training

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Scott L. Bruce Arkansas State University

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Kyra Dorney Premier Health

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Current literature indicates loss of consciousness occurs in about 10% of concussions. Posturing presentations represent brain injuries and a loss of consciousness. The purpose of this study was to observe video evidence of football-game-related concussions to determine the rate in which a posturing presentation occurs in reported concussion. Over the course of three National Football League and three National Collegiate Athletic Association football seasons, 103 videos of 805 reported concussions met the inclusion criteria; 35 videos demonstrated a posturing presentation, for a rate of 33.98%. Our study indicates that the published statistic regarding loss of consciousness (occurring only about 10% of the time) may be too conservative.

Bruce is an associate professor/director of research, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, USA. Dorney is a staff athletic trainer with Troy High School, Upper Valley Medical Center, Premier Health, Troy, OH, USA.

Bruce (slb.atc1984@gmail.com) is corresponding author.
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