Balance Markers in Adolescents at 1 Month Postconcussion

Background:The Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) shows that balance tends to recover within days after a concussion, whereas measures of the movement of the center of pressure (COP) show that balance deficits can persist up to 1 month after concussion. While approximately 30% of adolescents suffering concussion have functional consequences including balance deficits, evidence of the use of different balance assessments for concussion is limited within this population.Purpose:To compare performance on a series of balance assessments between adolescents with a diagnosed concussion at 1 month postinjury and noninjured control participants within the same age distribution.Study Design:Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:Thirty-three adolescents 1 month postconcussion and 33 control participants completed the BESS followed by two, 2-minute trials standing on a Nintendo Wii Balance Board (WBB), during which the COP under their feet was recorded using 2 testing protocols: (1) double-leg stance,...