The Influence of Cognitive Dual Tasks on Concussion Balance Test Performance

in Motor Control

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Nathan Morelli University of Kentucky

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Nicholas R. Heebner University of Kentucky

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Courtney J. DeFeo University of Kentucky

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Matthew C. Hoch University of Kentucky

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/mc.2020-0075
Keywords:
concussion balance test; cognitive-motor interference; dual task; postural control
First Published Online:
08 Feb 2021
In Print:
Volume 25: Issue 2
Page Range:
252–263
Restricted access

Objective: To determine the influence of a cognitive dual task on postural sway and balance errors during the Concussion Balance Test (COBALT). Methods: Twenty healthy adults (12 females, eight males; aged 21.95 ± 3.77 years; height = 169.95 ± 9.95 cm; weight = 69.58 ± 15.03 kg) partook in this study and completed single- and dual-task versions of a reduced COBALT. Results: Sway velocity decreased during dual-task head rotations on foam condition (p = .021, ES = −0.57). A greater number of movement errors occurred during dual-task head rotations on firm surface (p = .005, ES = 0.71), visual field flow on firm surface (p = .008, ES = 0.68), and head rotations on foam surface (p < .001, ES = 1.61) compared with single-task conditions. Cognitive performance was preserved throughout different sensory conditions of the COBALT (p = .985). Discussion: Cognitive dual tasks influenced postural control and destabilized movements during conditions requiring advanced sensory integration and reweighting demands. Dual-task versions of the COBALT should be explored as a clinical tool to identify residual deficits past the acute stages of concussion recovery.

The authors are with the Sports Medicine Research Institute, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.

Morelli (nathan.morelli@uky.edu) is corresponding author.
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