Virtual Neuromuscular And Dual-task Training: A Randomized Feasibility Study In Uninjured Young Adults

Increased risk of musculoskeletal injury is observed following concussion. Interventions that improve neuromuscular control may reduce post-concussion injury risk, but in-person delivery poses accessibility barriers. PURPOSE: To determine the feasibility of an 8-week virtual Neuromuscular Training (vNMT) program administered via a novel, smartphone-based approach. METHODS: Uninjured young adults were initially assessed, randomized to vNMT intervention or control groups, and returned for follow-up 8 weeks after the initial assessment. Those assigned to the vNMT intervention were instructed to complete 3 asynchronous, self-guided workouts/week for 8 weeks using a smartphone-based platform. Workouts included neuromuscular and dual-task focused exercises (balancing while completing a cognitive task, jumping, and strengthening tasks) of incrementally increasing difficulty. The smartphone-based platform provided guided instructions using video and text description (Figure 1). We assessed safety, adherence, and time spent performing exercises. RESULTS: Of the forty uninjured participants (mean age = 261.3 years, range: 22-34 years; 70% female), twenty were randomized to the vNMT group: n = 15 completed the intervention (75% retention). Of the 24 possible workouts in the 8-week vNMT period, participants completed 13.76.0 workouts (range = 4-22) and spent 17.38.0 minutes per workout (range = 7.35-37.91). Overall adherence was 57.225.0% (range: 16.7-91.7%) where n = 10 (67%) had an overall compliance >50%. There were no adverse reactions or injuries reported. CONCLUSION: Participants assigned to the intervention were moderately adherent with an asynchronous, at-home vNMT intervention. Our results support the feasibility of a smartphone-based rehabilitation program. Future work seeks to integrate accessible and feasible neuromuscular training approaches into post-concussion rehabilitation programs. Supported by the Tai Foundation .