Sub-maximal Exercise Prescription in Adolescents With Physiological Post-concussion Disorder

Summary

Although the vast majority of individuals sustaining a sport-related concussion (SRC) will receive medical clearance to return to sport within 7-10 days, approximately 30% of children and adolescents reporting to the emergency department will experience symptoms that last longer than a month. Research has demonstrated that exercise below the threshold that results in increases in symptoms, beyond those experienced at rest, (sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise) may be beneficial in recovery. However, the optimal amount and intensity of aerobic exercise for an individual to experience the most beneficial outcomes is currently unknown. Unfortunately there are limited Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT's) evaluating the benefits of aerobic exercise in a youth population. The current evidence includes studies with relatively small sample sizes, unreliable measurements of physical activity (self-report), and inherent biases through inadequate blinding. There is a need to develop and validate evidence-informed interventions as a means of treatment for limiting time loss from sport, and school in adolescents who experience persistent symptoms of sports related concussion beyond 10 days.

Conditions

• Physiological Post-Concussion Disorder
• Post-Concussion Syndrome
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Rehabilitation
• Aerobic Exercise
• Concussion, Brain

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Sub-symptom aerobic exercise

Both groups will be instructed to perform their respective aerobic exercise program the following day after completing their first treadmill test. Participants will be instructed to exercise at their prescribed intensity for a maximum of 30 minutes a day, 4-5 days a week. They will be asked to postpone the exercise until the next day if they experience significant increases in symptoms from usual resting levels. Exercise type will be the participant's choice, however we will ask the participant refrain from contact/high risk activities including any modalities that might induce rapid and aggressive head movements.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Manitoba

  collaborator OTHER

• Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Kathryn Schneider, PT, PhD · Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

13 Years

Max Age

19 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-12-10

Primary Completion

2019-06-30

Completion

2019-11-30

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations