The effect of exercise on motor performance tasks used in the neurological assessment of sports-related concussion

• Published in: British journal of sports medicine Vol. 42; no. 12; pp. 1011 - 1013
• Main Authors: Schneiders, A G, Sullivan, S J, McCrory, P R, Gray, A, Maruthayanar, S, Singh, P, Ranhotigammage, P, Van der Salm, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine 01.12.2008; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Athletic Injuries - complications; Athletic Injuries - physiopathology; Brain Concussion - etiology; Brain Concussion - physiopathology; Brain damage; Cohort Studies; Concussion; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Exercise intensity; Exercise Test - methods; Female; Heart rate; Human performance; Humans; Male; Motor ability; Motor Skills - physiology; Neurologic Examination; Physical fitness; Physiology; Postural Balance - physiology; Reproducibility of Results; Sports injuries; Sports medicine; Studies; Task Performance and Analysis; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0306-3674; 1473-0480; 1473-0480
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.2007.041665

Sports-related concussion is assessed using both cognitive and motor performance tasks. There is limited understanding of how exercise affects these measures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of moderate-intensity exercise on three selected measures of motor performance.A repeated measures design was used to compare baseline motor performance scores with post-exercise scores with an exercise intervention modelled on the physiological demands of a team sport. 30 physically active subjects performed timed motor performance tasks: Finger-to-Nose (FTN), Tandem Gait (TG) and Single Leg Stance (SLS). The tasks were administered twice pre-exercise and twice post-exercise.FTN, TG and SLS demonstrated high test–retest reliability (ICC values >0.8). 15 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise caused a significant improvement in FTN (T2 = 2.66 (SD 0.38), T3 = 2.49 (0.32); p<0.001) and TG (T2 = 13.08 (2.84), T3 = 12.23 (2.22); p = 0.001), but not in SLS (T2 = 5.94 (4.99), T3 = 5.91 (5.54); p = 0.507).Improvement in the performance of motor tasks after exercise has implications for the immediate assessment of sports-related concussion, given that measures of motor performance are utilised in concussion assessment instruments.