Thirty-Second Single-Leg Stance Identifies Impaired Postural Control in Children After Concussion: A Preliminary Report.
Ghazala T Saleem, Beth S Slomine, Stacy J Suskauer
PMID 34808596WHAT IT FOUND
A 30-second single-leg stance test identified postural control deficits in children after concussion, even after clinical recovery.
This static task was more sensitive than dynamic gait tests for detecting subtle, persistent balance issues in this preliminary study.
Key findings
01The single-leg stance task (holding for 30 seconds per leg) was the only PANESS task that significantly discriminated between never-concussed controls and both symptomatic and medically-cleared youth.
02Dynamic gait tasks did not significantly discriminate between the groups, contradicting the study's primary hypothesis.
03There was no significant difference in single-leg stance performance between the symptomatic and medically-cleared concussion groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Small sample size (n=60) limits generalizability and statistical power. Cross-sectional design prevents causal inferences about recovery trajectories. Rater was not blinded to group assignment, introducing potential bias. No pre-injury baseline data were available for the concussion groups.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this single-leg stance test is validated for clinical clearance decisions. The study was preliminary, small, and cross-sectional, showing association rather than predictive validity for safe return to activity.