Modulating Exercise Dosage to Improve Concussion Recovery

Summary

Aerobic exercise has emerged as an effective treatment to reduce sport-related concussion symptom severity, yet existing work lacks rigor regarding the precise exercise volume and intensity required to elicit therapeutic effects, how exercise can alter concussion-related pathophysiology, and whether exercise can prevent the development of secondary sequelae. Our objective is to examine if a high dose exercise program (higher volume than currently prescribed at an individualized, safe intensity level) initiated within 14 days of concussion results in faster symptom resolution, altered physiological function, or reduced secondary sequalae. Findings from this research will lead to more rigorous and precise rehabilitation guidelines and improved understanding about how exercise affects neurophysiological function among adolescents with concussion.

Conditions

• Concussion, Brain
• Treatment
• Aerobic Exercise
• Inflammation
• Depression, Anxiety

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

High Dose Exercise

The investigators will initially test and randomize adolescents ages 13-18 years old ≤14 days post-concussion to high dose aerobic exercise (\>150 min/week, individualized intensity level) or standard-of-care (symptom limited, self-guided physical activity), and re-test upon symptom resolution and 8-weeks post symptom resolution

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Boston Children's Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

  collaborator NIH

• University of Colorado, Denver

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• David R Howell, PhD · University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

13 Years

Max Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-08-05

Primary Completion

2027-02-01

Completion

2027-02-01

Countries

• United States

Study Locations