Visual perturbation impacts upright postural stability in athletes with an acute concussion

Objective: The impact that visual perturbation has on upright postural stability in an athlete with a concussion has not been established. The present study aimed to characterize the influence that visual perturbation stimuli have on upright balance among athletes with acute concussions. Design: A 2X2X2 repeated measure designed was used. Method: The present study examined the influence visual perturbation has on individuals suffering from an acute concussion. Fourteen participants (7 with a concussion and 7 matched controls) underwent various balance assessments with and without visual perturbation. Results: Overall, athletes with acute concussions demonstrated impairments in balance 24–48 hours following a concussion. However, when assessed using a visual perturbation task, athletes with acute concussions demonstrated improved balance, while control subjects did not show any significant changes during the same visual perturbation task. Conclusion: An athlete’s ability to disregard visual perturbation stimuli is imperative for successful participation in sports. Due to the observed alterations in balance when given a visual perturbation task, it is suggested that athletes with acute concussions place more attention on the balance task and may disregard other less meaningful tasks.