![Sample our Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5944/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Medicine-Dentistry-Nursing-Allied-Health.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Background: While postural control impairment is common following sport-related concussion, few investigations have studied the physiological basis for this impairment. Both the Reflex/Hierarchical Model and the Systems Model are commonly used to characterize the physiological basis of postural control.
Purpose: To discuss the physiological basis of postural control impairment resulting from sport-related concussion based on these models and suggest directions for future research.
Methods: Narrative literature review.
Findings: Postural control impairment seen with sport-related concussion is a multifaceted construct that can result from deficits in numerous systems that underlie postural control as described by the Systems Model, rather than a unidimensional construct that stems from the central nervous systems’ inability to integrate sensory input to control posture as per the Reflex/Hierarchical Model.
Conclusion: We recommend a transition away from the Hierarchical/Reflex Model of postural control towards the Systems Model in the conceptualization of sport-related concussion. Future research on postural control following sport-related concussion should account for the multifaceted nature of the resulting postural control impairment based on the Systems Model. Clinically, there is a need for a clinical postural control test that allows examination across the affected systems under single-task, dual-task, and sport-specific paradigms.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of Codi Isaac in proofreading the manuscript. T. Manaseer is funded by the Hashemite University.
Declaration of Interest
The authors acknowledge that they have no conflicts of interest.