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Occupational Risk of Low-Level Blast Exposure and TBI-Related Medical Diagnoses: A Population-Based Epidemiological Investigation (2005-2015). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182412925. [PMID: 34948535 PMCID: PMC8700773 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182412925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Because traumatic brain injury (TBI)—most often caused by exposure to high-level blast (HLB)—is a leading cause of medical evacuations of deployed U.S. service members in recent conflicts, researchers seek to identify risk factors for TBI. Previous research using self-reported data has identified low-level blast (LLB) as one such risk factor and suggests an association with susceptibility to and symptoms associated with TBI. This article presents a population-based study of all branches of military service that examines the association between occupational risk for LLB and both clinically diagnosed TBIs—from concussions to severe and penetrating TBIs—and conditions commonly comorbid with concussion. Using archival medical and career records from >2 million service members between 2005–2015, this work demonstrates that occupational risk of LLB is associated with any TBI, mild TBI, moderate TBI, cognitive problems, communication problems, hearing problems, headaches, any behavioral health condition, anxiety, drug abuse/dependence, alcohol abuse/dependence, delirium/dementia, posttraumatic stress disorder, post-concussive syndrome, tinnitus, fatigue, and migraines. Understanding the full scope of the effects of LLB on service members will help ensure the health and readiness of service members and may influence both military policy and clinical practice guidelines for blast-induced injuries.
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Haran FJ, Zampieri C, Wassermann EM, Polejaeva E, Dell KC, LoPresti ML, Stone JR, Ahlers ST, Carr W. Chronic Effects of Breaching Blast Exposure on Sensory Organization and Postural Limits of Stability. J Occup Environ Med 2021; 63:944-950. [PMID: 33990528 PMCID: PMC8570990 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The goal of this effort to investigate if experienced breachers, professionals with a career history of exposure to repeated low-level blasts, exhibited postural instability. METHODS Postural data were examined using traditional tests of means and compared to normative data. RESULTS Breachers had significantly lower NeuroCom Sensory Organization Test (SOT) visual scores (within normative limits), prolonged Limits of Stability (LOS) test reaction time (30% of breachers and 7% of controls testing abnormal), and slower LOS movement velocity (21% of breachers and 0% of controls testing abnormal) compared to controls. CONCLUSION Our LOS test findings are like those previously reported for students in the military breacher training course and seem to indicate that while acute effects of blasts on sensory control of balance fade away, effects on postural LOS persist over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- F J Haran
- NeuroTrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center (Dr Haran and Dr Ahlers); Clinical Center, Rehabilitation Medicine Department, National Institutes of Health (Dr Zampieri); National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health (Dr Wassermann); Clinical & Health Psychology, University of Florida (Ms Polejaeva); Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University (Ms Dell); Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (Dr LoPresti and Dr Carr); Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia (Dr Stone)
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Belding JN, Englert RM, Fitzmaurice S, Jackson JR, Koenig HG, Hunter MA, Thomsen CJ, da Silva UO. Potential Health and Performance Effects of High-Level and Low-Level Blast: A Scoping Review of Two Decades of Research. Front Neurol 2021; 12:628782. [PMID: 33776888 PMCID: PMC7987950 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.628782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although blast exposure has been recognized as a significant source of morbidity and mortality in military populations, our understanding of the effects of blast exposure, particularly low-level blast (LLB) exposure, on health outcomes remains limited. This scoping review provides a comprehensive, accessible review of the peer-reviewed literature that has been published on blast exposure over the past two decades, with specific emphasis on LLB. We conducted a comprehensive scoping review of the scientific literature published between January 2000 and 2019 pertaining to the effects of blast injury and/or exposure on human and animal health. A three-level review process with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria was used. A full-text review of all articles pertaining to LLB exposure was conducted and relevant study characteristics were extracted. The research team identified 3,215 blast-relevant articles, approximately half of which (55.4%) studied live humans, 16% studied animals, and the remainder were non-subjects research (e.g., literature reviews). Nearly all (99.49%) of the included studies were conducted by experts in medicine or epidemiology; approximately half of these articles were categorized into more than one medical specialty. Among the 51 articles identified as pertaining to LLB specifically, 45.1% were conducted on animals and 39.2% focused on human subjects. Animal studies of LLB predominately used shock tubes to induce various blast exposures in rats, assessed a variety of outcomes, and clearly demonstrated that LLB exposure is associated with brain injury. In contrast, the majority of LLB studies on humans were conducted among military and law enforcement personnel in training environments and had remarkable variability in the exposures and outcomes assessed. While findings suggest that there is the potential for LLB to harm human populations, findings are mixed and more research is needed. Although it is clear that more research is needed on this rapidly growing topic, this review highlights the detrimental effects of LLB on the health of both animals and humans. Future research would benefit from multidisciplinary collaboration, larger sample sizes, and standardization of terminology, exposures, and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N. Belding
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Robyn M. Englert
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Shannon Fitzmaurice
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Jourdan R. Jackson
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Hannah G. Koenig
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Michael A. Hunter
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Cynthia J. Thomsen
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Uade Olaghere da Silva
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
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Sajja VSSS, LaValle C, Salib JE, Misistia AC, Ghebremedhin MY, Ramos AN, Egnoto MJ, Long JB, Kamimori GH. The Role of Very Low Level Blast Overpressure in Symptomatology. Front Neurol 2019; 10:891. [PMID: 31555194 PMCID: PMC6722183 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Blast overpressure exposure has been linked to transient, but measurably deteriorated performance and symptomatologies in law enforcement and military personnel. Overlapping sub-concussive symptomatology associated with the very low level blast overpressures (vLLB) but high sound pressure (<3 psi) associated with these exposures has largely been ignored. Notably, the current vLLB or acoustic literature has focused exclusively on auditory defects, and has not addressed the broader concerns of Soldier health and readiness. This work was prompted by reports of symptomatology such as headache, nausea, slowed reaction time, and balance/hearing complications among personnel undergoing frequent exposures to low overpressure accompanied by high acoustic pressures. To more fully address the consequences associated with low overpressure exposures (<3 psi), a pilot proof-of-concept study was implemented, and data was acquired at two sites on the Fort Benning grenade course range. Findings indicated overpressures ranged from 0.14 to 0.42 psi (0.97–2.89 kPa) at range 1 and 0.22–0.30 psi (1.52–2.07 kPa) on range 2 of the grenade course. Corresponding sound-meter data varied from 153.72 to 163.22 dBP. Headache and long think were the most frequently reported symptoms (3/6 instructors), with lightheadedness, ringing of the ears, restlessness, frustration, and irritability also increasing in 2/6 of the instructors post exposure. Long think (prolonged thinking), ringing of the ears, restlessness, and irritability were the most severe symptoms, with the highest reported post exposure value rating a 3 on the 0–4-point scale. We demonstrate that low-level repeated overpressure exposure can result in transient symptomatology that overlaps with sub-concussive like effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christina LaValle
- Blast-Induced NeuroTrauma Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Jonathan E Salib
- Blast-Induced NeuroTrauma Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Anthony C Misistia
- Blast-Induced NeuroTrauma Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Meron Y Ghebremedhin
- Blast-Induced NeuroTrauma Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Alejandro N Ramos
- Blast-Induced NeuroTrauma Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Michael Joseph Egnoto
- Blast-Induced NeuroTrauma Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Joseph B Long
- Blast-Induced NeuroTrauma Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Gary H Kamimori
- Blast-Induced NeuroTrauma Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
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Kubli LR, Pinto RL, Burrows HL, Littlefield PD, Brungart DS. The effects of repeated low-level blast exposure on hearing in marines. Noise Health 2019; 19:227-238. [PMID: 28937017 PMCID: PMC5644382 DOI: 10.4103/nah.nah_58_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study evaluates a group of Military Service Members specialized in blast explosive training called "Breachers" who are routinely exposed to multiple low-level blasts while teaching breaching at the U.S. Marine Corps in Quantico Virginia. The objective of this study was to determine if there are any acute or long-term auditory changes due to repeated low-level blast exposures used in training. The performance of the instructor group "Breachers" was compared to a control group, "Engineers". METHODS A total of 11 Breachers and four engineers were evaluated in the study. The participants received comprehensive auditory tests, including pure-tone testing, speech-in-noise (SIN) measures, and central auditory behavioral and objective tests using early and late (P300) auditory evoked potentials over a period of 17 months. They also received shorter assessments immediately following the blast-exposure onsite at Quantico. RESULTS No acute or longitudinal effects were identified. However, there were some interesting baseline effects found in both groups. Contrary to the expected, the onsite hearing thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emissions were slightly better at a few frequencies immediately after blast-exposure than measurements obtained with the same equipment weeks to months after each blast-exposure. CONCLUSIONS To date, the current study is the most comprehensive study that evaluates the long-term effects of blast-exposure on hearing. Despite extensive testing to assess changes, the findings of this study suggest that the levels of current exposures used in this military training environment do not seem to have an obvious deleterious effect on hearing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina R Kubli
- US Army Public Health Center (Provisional), Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Edgewood, Maryland; Audiology and Speech Pathology Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Robin L Pinto
- Audiology and Speech Pathology Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Holly L Burrows
- Audiology and Speech Pathology Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Philip D Littlefield
- Department of Otolaryngology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Otolaryngology, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - Douglas S Brungart
- Audiology and Speech Pathology Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Papathanasiou ES, Cronin T, Seemungal B, Sandhu J. Electrophysiological testing in concussion: A guide to clinical applications. JOURNAL OF CONCUSSION 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/2059700218812634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury in concussion is difficult since it is often unwitnessed, the patient’s recall is unreliable and initial clinical examination is often unrevealing, correlating poorly with the extent of brain injury. At present, there are no objective biomarkers of mild traumatic brain injury in concussion. Thus, a sensitive gold standard test is required to enable the effective and safe triage of patients who present to the acute services. As well as triage, objective monitoring of patients’ recovery over time and separate from clinical features that patients may develop following the injury (e.g. depression and migraine) is also needed. In contrast to neuroimaging, which is widely used to investigate traumatic brain injury patients, electrophysiology is readily available, is cheap and there are internationally recognized standardised methodologies. Herein, we review the existing literature on electrophysiological testing in concussion and mild traumatic brain injury; specifically, electroencephalogram, polysomnography, brainstem auditory evoked potentials, electro- and videonystagmography, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, visually evoked potentials, somatosensory evoked potentials and transcranial magnetic stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleftherios S Papathanasiou
- Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory, Clinic B, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Thomas Cronin
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Barry Seemungal
- Division of Brain Sciences, St Mary’s and Charing Cross Hospitals, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Jaswinder Sandhu
- Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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Yuan W, Barber Foss KD, Dudley J, Thomas S, Galloway R, DiCesare C, Leach J, Scheifele P, Farina M, Valencia G, Smith D, Altaye M, Rhea CK, Talavage T, Myer GD. Impact of Low-Level Blast Exposure on Brain Function after a One-Day Tactile Training and the Ameliorating Effect of a Jugular Vein Compression Neck Collar Device. J Neurotrauma 2018; 36:721-734. [PMID: 30136637 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.5737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) personnel who conduct breacher exercises are at risk for blast-related head trauma. We aimed to investigate the potential impact of low-level blast exposure during breacher training on the neural functioning of working memory and auditory network connectivity. We also aimed to evaluate the effects of a jugular vein compression collar, designed to internally mitigate slosh energy absorption, preserving neural functioning and connectivity, following blast exposure. A total of 23 SWAT personnel were recruited and randomly assigned to a non-collar (n = 11) and collar group (n = 12). All participants completed a 1-day breacher training with multiple blast exposure. Prior to and following training, 18 participants (non-collar, n = 8; collar, n = 10) completed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of working memory using N-Back task; 20 participants (non-collar, n = 10; collar, n = 12) completed resting-state fMRI. Key findings from the working memory analysis include significantly increased fMRI brain activation in the right insular, right superior temporal pole, right inferior frontal gyrus, and pars orbitalis post-training for the non-collar group (p < 0.05, threshold-free cluster enhancement corrected), but no changes were noted for the collar group. The elevation in fMRI activation in the non-collar group was found to correlate significantly (n = 7, r = 0.943, p = 0.001) with average peak impulse amplitude experienced during the training. In the resting-state fMRI analysis, significant pre- to post-training increase in connectivity between the auditory network and two discrete regions (left middle frontal gyrus and left superior lateral occipital/angular gyri) was found in the non-collar group, while no change was observed in the collar group. These data provided initial evidence of the impact of low-level blast on working memory and auditory network connectivity as well as the protective effect of collar on brain function following blast exposure, and is congruent with previous collar findings in sport-related traumatic brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihong Yuan
- 1 Pediatric Neuroimaging Research Consortium, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, Ohio.,10 University of Cincinnati College of Medicine , Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Kim D Barber Foss
- 2 The SPORT Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Jonathan Dudley
- 1 Pediatric Neuroimaging Research Consortium, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Staci Thomas
- 2 The SPORT Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Ryan Galloway
- 2 The SPORT Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Christopher DiCesare
- 2 The SPORT Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - James Leach
- 3 Division of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, Ohio.,10 University of Cincinnati College of Medicine , Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Pete Scheifele
- 4 Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Cincinnati , Ohio
| | - Megan Farina
- 4 Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Cincinnati , Ohio
| | - Gloria Valencia
- 4 Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Cincinnati , Ohio
| | - David Smith
- 2 The SPORT Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Mekibib Altaye
- 5 Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Christopher K Rhea
- 6 Department of Kinesiology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro , Greensboro, North Carolina
| | - Thomas Talavage
- 7 School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University , West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - Gregory D Myer
- 2 The SPORT Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, Ohio.,8 Departments of Pediatrics and Orthopedic Surgery, University of Cincinnati , Ohio.,9 The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention , Waltham, Massachusetts
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Bonnette S, Diekfuss JA, Kiefer AW, Riley MA, Barber Foss KD, Thomas S, DiCesare CA, Yuan W, Dudley J, Reches A, Myer GD. A jugular vein compression collar prevents alterations of endogenous electrocortical dynamics following blast exposure during special weapons and tactical (SWAT) breacher training. Exp Brain Res 2018; 236:2691-2701. [PMID: 29987537 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-018-5328-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to explosive blasts places one at risk for traumatic brain injury, especially for special weapons and tactics (SWAT) and military personnel, who may be repeatedly exposed to blasts. In the current study, the effectiveness of a jugular vein compression collar to prevent alterations in resting-state electrocortical activity following a single-SWAT breacher training session was investigated. SWAT team personnel were randomly assigned to wear a compression collar during breacher training and resting state electroencephalography (EEG) was measured within 2 days prior to and two after breacher training. It was hypothesized that significant changes in brain dynamics-indicative of possible underlying neurodegenerative processes-would follow blast exposure for those who did not wear the collar, with ameliorated changes for the collar-wearing group. Using recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) it was found that participants who did not wear the collar displayed longer periods of laminar electrocortical behavior (as indexed by RQA's vertical max line measure) after breacher training. It is proposed that the blast wave exposure for the no-collar group may have reduced the number of pathways, via axonal disruption-for electrical transmission-resulting in the EEG signals becoming trapped in laminar states for longer periods of time. Longer laminar states have been associated with other electrocortical pathologies, such as seizure, and may be important for understanding head trauma and recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Bonnette
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Jed A Diekfuss
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Adam W Kiefer
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Center for Cognition, Action, and Perception, Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Michael A Riley
- Center for Cognition, Action, and Perception, Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kim D Barber Foss
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Staci Thomas
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Christopher A DiCesare
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Weihong Yuan
- Pediatric Neuroimaging Research Consortium, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jonathan Dudley
- Pediatric Neuroimaging Research Consortium, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | - Gregory D Myer
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, MA, USA
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Fino PC, Parrington L, Walls M, Sippel E, Hullar TE, Chesnutt JC, King LA. Abnormal Turning and Its Association with Self-Reported Symptoms in Chronic Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. J Neurotrauma 2018; 35:1167-1177. [PMID: 29078732 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2017.5231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Turning is common in daily activity and requires rapid, coordinated reorientation of the head, trunk, and pelvis toward the new direction of travel. Yet, turning gait has not been well explored in populations with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) who may alter their turning behavior according to self-perceived symptoms or motor dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to examine turning velocities and coordination in adults with chronic mTBI (>3 months post-injury and still reporting balance complaints) during a task simulating everyday ambulation. We hypothesized that individuals with chronic mTBI would reduce their angular velocity when turning and increase the variability of head-pelvis coordination compared with controls, and that the reduction in velocity and increased variability would be associated with their self-reported symptom score. Forty-two adults (14 chronic mTBI, 28 controls) completed the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory before walking 12 laps around a marked course containing two 45-degree turns, four 90-degree turns, and two 135-degree turns. Inertial sensors collected angular velocities of the head and pelvis. After adjusting for covariates, participants with chronic mTBI had significantly slower lap times and peak angular velocities of the pelvis (p < 0.01) compared with the control group. The peak velocity timing (PVT) between peak velocities of the head and pelvis, and the variability of that timing was significantly greater in participants with chronic mTBI (p < 0.01). Within the chronic mTBI group, somatosensory symptoms were associated with slower angular velocities of the head and pelvis (p = 0.03) and increased PVT variability (p < 0.01). The results suggest individuals with chronic mTBI with worse somatic symptoms have impaired head stabilization during turning in situations similar to everyday life. These results encourage future research on turning gait to examine the causal relationship between symptoms and daily locomotor function in adults with chronic mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter C Fino
- 1 Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University , Portland, Oregon
| | - Lucy Parrington
- 1 Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University , Portland, Oregon
| | - Merissa Walls
- 1 Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University , Portland, Oregon
| | - Emily Sippel
- 1 Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University , Portland, Oregon
| | - Timothy E Hullar
- 2 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University , Portland, Oregon
| | - James C Chesnutt
- 3 Department of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation, Neurology, and Family Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University , Portland, Oregon
| | - Laurie A King
- 1 Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University , Portland, Oregon
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