Minute-by-minute Analysis Of Knee Flexion During The Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test

The Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test (BCTT) is an assessment to gauge the extent of exercise tolerance for patients recovering from sport-related concussions (SRC). Research suggests that knee kinematics are altered following an SRC seen throughout the BCTT during midstance (MS), but it is unclear if this persists at each minute of the test. PURPOSE: Evaluate knee flexion differences at MS during each minute of BCTT within 72 hours post-SRC compared to symptom free(SF). METHODS: 12 NCAA Division I athletes (avg. age = 20 ± 2 yrs; avg. height = 70.93 ± 5.09in) completed the BCTT within 3 days post-SRC (CON) and after being fully symptom-free (SF) for 24 hours. The BCTT was performed via the standardized guidelines, which involved measurements of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS 0-10), heart rate(HR), and Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE 6-20). Treadmill speed was contingent upon the participant’s height (3.2mph <70 in; 3.6mph < 70in) and the grade increase (1%) at each minute. The test was stopped after a consecutive 3 pt change on the VAS, RPE > 16, or when 90% of HR predicted maximum was reached. Each minute, the subjects’ joint angles (knee total range of motion in flexion/extension) were tracked using markerless motion capture (120 Hz, Qualisys motion capture, Qualisys, Göteborg, SE), analyzed using Theia (Theia Markerless, Ontario, CA), and processed through Visual 3D (10 Hz Low Pass, C-motion Inc. Germantown, MD, 1997, v.2022.09.1). Paired samples t-tests were run to determine minute by minute differences between CON and SF. Data were normalized to the lowest common denominator of time. RESULTS: A significant difference was found in flexion/extension during mid-stance of varying minutes (Table 1). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that SRC demonstrated greater knee flexion during the BCTT at varying time points and it becomes more significant as the time of the task increases.