Recovery and Musculoskeletal Injury Following Sport-Related Concussion

Athletes who sustain a sport-related concussion are at significantly greater risk of future musculoskeletal injuries. This heightened musculoskeletal injury risk persists for at least 12 months, adding a complex dimension to sport-related concussion management. While this relationship has been well-documented, the underlying mechanisms have not been identified. Researchers at the SMRI have recently initiated a study to determine if deficiencies in cognition, reaction time, neuromuscular control, or vestibular function persist beyond return to sport participation; in spite of concussion symptom resolution and passing standard clinical exams, as a basis for this relationship. This project is actively recruiting student athletes from athletic programs at the University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, and Fayette County Public Schools with the vision of expanding to other universities and schools in central Kentucky in the future. Participants are completing preseason assessments to serve as baseline indicators of function for comparison to measures collected following return to participation from a sport-related concussion. Participants will then be followed for one year to determine if they sustain musculoskeletal injuries or additional concussions. The expected outcomes of this study are to identify modifiable impairments in cognition, reaction time, neuromuscular control, or vestibular function that increase musculoskeletal injury susceptibility. This study is a critical step towards the long-term goal of developing post-concussion rehabilitation protocols to reduce musculoskeletal injury risk and mitigate the long-term consequences of concussion in sport.

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