Early targeted heart rate exercise is safe and May hasten return-to-duty in service members with acute concussion, a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of an exercise tolerance assessment and intervention added to the Progressive Return to Activity Clinical Recommendations (PRA-CR) in acutely concussed service members (SMs). METHODS: This non-randomized, pilot trial was performed at one center. SMs in the experimental group (ERG) performed the Buffalo Concussion March-in-place Test (BCMT) at every clinic visit and were prescribed at least 20 minutes/day of targeted exercise in addition to PRA-CR. Data for the control group (SCG) were extracted from the same clinic immediately prior to ERG. SMs in both groups were assessed by the same clinician to determine return-to-duty. RESULTS: BCMT identified concussion-related exercise intolerance in 100% (n = 14) at screening visit (mean 3.4 days after injury) and in 0% (n = 7) who had recovered. No adverse effects were associated with BCMT. The estimated recovery time for ERG who performed the exercise intervention (n = 12) was 17.0 (12.8, 21.2) days and for SCG (n = 15) was 23.7 (19.9, 27.5) days (p = 0.039). CONCLUSION: Assessment of exercise tolerance was feasible and could be incorporated into the PRA-CR. Future definitive, randomized controlled trials should be performed to assess the effectiveness of exercise reset program for SMs after concussion.

Early Identification and Management of Cervical Impairments in Pediatric Patients With Concussion May Reduce Risk of Delayed Recovery.

OBJECTIVE: Previous research, including high-quality systematic reviews, has found that cervical injury, which often accompanies concussive head injury, can delay recovery from concussion. One pilot randomized controlled trial found that focused cervical assessment and appropriate intervention in children and young adults with persisting postconcussive symptoms (PPCS) improved recovery outcomes. Our sports medicine clinics adopted this approach early (within 2 weeks) in children (aged 10-18 years) after concussion. This study describes our clinical management protocol and compares the recovery trajectories in children after concussion with and without a concomitant cervical injury. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Three university-affiliated outpatient sports medicine clinics from September 2016 to December 2019. PATIENTS: One-hundred thirty-four concussed children with cervical impairment (mean age 14.9 years, 65% male, and 6.2 days since concussion) were compared with 130 concussed children without cervical impairment (mean age 14.9 years, 57% male, and 6.0 days since concussion). INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Examination findings related to the cervical spine (range of motion, cervical spasm, and cervical tenderness). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Recovery time (measured in days), concussion symptom burden (Postconcussion Symptom Scale), and incidence of PPCS. RESULTS: Children with cervical impairment reported a higher initial symptom burden; however, there were no differences in recovery time (33.65 [28.20-39.09] days vs 35.98 [27.50-44.45] days, P = 0.651) or incidence of PPCS (40.0% vs 34.3%, P = 0.340). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that within this pediatric population, early identification and management of cervical injuries concomitant with concussion may reduce the risk of delayed recovery.

Early Targeted Heart Rate Aerobic Exercise Reduces Proportion of Subacute Musculoskeletal Injuries After Recovery From Sport-Related Concussion.

OBJECTIVE: There is greater risk of musculoskeletal (MSK) injury after clinical recovery from sport-related concussion (SRC). We determined whether aerobic exercise treatment within 10 days of SRC reduced the proportion of MSK injury in recovered adolescent athletes at 4 months since injury. DESIGN: Planned secondary analysis of a randomized trial of aerobic exercise versus stretching exercise in adolescents after SRC. SETTING: Outpatient and hospital-based sports medicine centers. PARTICIPANTS: Aerobic exercise (n = 38, 58% male, 15.6 years) and stretching exercise (n = 25, 64% male, 15.9 years) participants completed a questionnaire at 3.5 and 3.3 months since recovery, respectively. INTERVENTIONS: Individualized subthreshold aerobic exercise versus placebo-like stretching. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of MSK injury, subsequent concussion, and return to exercise training, school, and sport determined 3 months after clinical recovery from SRC. RESULTS: Overall, 24% of participants randomized to stretching experienced an MSK injury versus 5.3% of participants randomized to aerobic exercise. There was no difference in time to return to school, sport, or incidence of subsequent concussion. Stretching participants were 6.4 times (95% confidence interval 1.135-36.053) more likely to sustain MSK injury than aerobic exercise participants when controlling for the duration of exposure to sport and return to preinjury sport participation. All injuries were in male participants. CONCLUSION: Adolescent male athletes prescribed aerobic exercise within 10 days of SRC had a significantly lower proportion of individuals injured in the 3 months following clinical recovery when compared with stretching. This may be due to a habituation/rehabilitation effect of aerobic activities to improve autonomic, vestibular, and/or oculomotor function after SRC.

An Exploratory Analysis of Physical Examination Subtypes in Pediatric Athletes With Concussion.

OBJECTIVE: Pediatric athletes with concussion present with a variety of impairments on clinical assessment and require individualized treatment. The Buffalo Concussion Physical Examination is a brief, pertinent clinical assessment for individuals with concussion. The purpose of this study was to identify physical examination subtypes in pediatric athletes with concussion within 2 weeks of injury that are relevant to diagnosis and treatment. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a published cohort study and clinician consensus. SETTING: Three university-affiliated sports medicine centers. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred seventy children (14.9 ± 1.9 years). INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Orthostatic intolerance, horizontal and vertical saccades, smooth pursuits, vestibulo-ocular reflex, near-point convergence, complex tandem gait, neck range of motion, neck tenderness, and neck spasm. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlations between independent variables were calculated, and network graphs were made. k -means and hierarchical clustering were used to identify clusters of impairments. Optimal number of clusters was assessed. Results were reviewed by experienced clinicians and consensus was reached on proposed subtypes. RESULTS: Physical examination clusters overlapped with each other, and no optimal number of clusters was identified. Clinician consensus suggested 3 possible subtypes: (1) visio-vestibular (horizontal and vertical saccades, smooth pursuits, and vestibulo-ocular reflex), (2) cervicogenic (neck range of motion and spasm), and (3) autonomic/balance (orthostatic intolerance and complex tandem gait). CONCLUSIONS: Although we identified 3 physical examination subtypes, it seemed that physical examination findings alone are not enough to define subtypes that are both statistically supported and clinically relevant, likely because they do not include symptoms, assessment of mood or cognitive problems, or graded exertion testing.

Adolescents With a High Burden of New-Onset Mood Symptoms After Sport-Related Concussion Benefit From Prescribed Aerobic Exercise, a Secondary Analysis of 2 Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: Approximately 20% of students with sport-related concussion (SRC) report new symptoms of anxiety and depression which may be associated with delayed recovery and increased risk for developing a mood disorder. Early prescribed aerobic exercise facilitates recovery in athletes with concussion-related exercise intolerance. We studied the effect of aerobic exercise treatment on new mood symptoms early after SRC. DESIGN: Exploratory secondary analysis of 2 randomized controlled trials (RCT). SETTING: Sports medicine clinics associated with UB (Buffalo, NY), CHOP (Philadelphia, PA), and Boston Children's Hospital (Boston, MA). PARTICIPANTS: Male and female adolescents (aged 13-18 years) diagnosed with SRC (2-10 days since injury). INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomized to individualized targeted heart rate aerobic exercise (n = 102) or to a placebo intervention designed to mimic relative rest (n = 96). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of Persisting Post-Concussive Symptoms (PPCS, symptoms ≥28 days). RESULTS: First RCT recruited from 2016 to 2018 and the second from 2018 to 2020. Of 198 adolescents, 156 (79%) reported a low burden (mean 1.2 ± 1.65/24) while 42 (21%) reported a high burden (mean 9.74 ± 3.70/24) of emotional symptoms before randomization. Intervention hazard ratio for developing PPCS for low burden was 0.767 (95% CI, 0.546-1.079; P = 0.128; ß = 0.085) and for high burden was 0.290 (95% CI, 0.123-0.683; P = 0.005; ß = 0.732). CONCLUSIONS: High burden of mood symptoms early after injury increases risk for PPCS, but the sports medicine model of providing early targeted aerobic exercise treatment reduces it. Nonsports medicine clinicians who treat patients with a high burden of new mood symptoms after concussion should consider prescribing aerobic exercise treatment to reduce the risk of PPCS and a mood disorder.

Does Physiologic Post-Concussion Disorder Cause Persistent Post-Traumatic Headache?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: One system classifies patients with symptoms after concussion into physiologic, vestibulo-ocular, cervicogenic, and mood/cognition post-concussion disorders (PCD) based upon the preponderance of specific symptoms and physical impairments. This review discusses physiologic PCD and its potential relationship to the development of persistent post-traumatic headaches (PPTH). RECENT FINDINGS: Headache is the most reported symptom after a concussion. Headaches in physiologic PCD are suspected to be due to abnormal cellular metabolism, subclinical neuroinflammation, and dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). These abnormalities have been linked to the development of migraine-like and neuralgia-related PPTH. Physiologic PCD is a potential cause of PPTH after a concussion. Future research should focus on how to prevent PPTH in patients with physiologic PCD.

Adults are not older adolescents: comparing physical therapy findings among adolescents, young adults and older adults with persistent post-concussive symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Individuals with persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS) may present with a myriad of physical symptoms. There is limited research available comparing the presence of examination findings among individuals with PPCS from different age groups. METHODS: Retrospective case-control chart review of 481 patients with PPCS and 271 non-trauma controls. Physical assessments were categorized as ocular, cervical, and vestibular/balance. Differences in presentation were compared between PPCS and controls as well as between individuals with PPCS in three age groups: adolescents, young adults, and older adults. RESULTS: All three PPCS groups had more abnormal oculomotor findings than their age-matched counterparts. When comparing PPCS patients from different age groups, no differences were seen in prevalence of abnormal smooth pursuits or saccades; however, adolescents with PPCS had more abnormal cervical findings and a lower prevalence of abnormal NPC, vestibular and balance findings. CONCLUSION: Patients with PPCS presented with a different constellation of clinical findings based on their age. Adolescents were more likely to demonstrate evidence of cervical injury compared to younger and older adults, and adults were more likely to present with vestibular findings and impaired NPC. Adults with PPCS were more likely to present with abnormal oculomotor findings compared to adults with non-traumatic causes of dizziness.

Rest and exercise early after sport-related concussion: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesise the evidence regarding the risks and benefits of physical activity (PA), prescribed aerobic exercise treatment, rest, cognitive activity and sleep during the first 14 days after sport-related concussion (SRC). DESIGN: Meta-analysis was performed for PA/prescribed exercise interventions and a narrative synthesis for rest, cognitive activity and sleep. Risk of bias (ROB) was determined using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network and quality assessed using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycInfo, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL Plus and SPORTDiscus. Searches were conducted in October 2019 and updated in March 2022. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Original research articles with sport-related mechanism of injury in >50% of study sample and that evaluated how PA, prescribed exercise, rest, cognitive activity and/or sleep impact recovery following SRC. Reviews, conference proceedings, commentaries, editorials, case series, animal studies and articles published before 1 January 2001 were excluded. RESULTS: 46 studies were included and 34 had acceptable/low ROB. Prescribed exercise was assessed in 21 studies, PA in 15 studies (6 PA/exercise studies also assessed cognitive activity), 2 assessed cognitive activity only and 9 assessed sleep. In a meta-analysis of seven studies, PA and prescribed exercise improved recovery by a mean of -4.64 days (95% CI -6.69, -2.59). After SRC, early return to light PA (initial 2 days), prescribed aerobic exercise treatment (days 2-14) and reduced screen use (initial 2 days) safely facilitate recovery. Early prescribed aerobic exercise also reduces delayed recovery, and sleep disturbance is associated with slower recovery. CONCLUSION: Early PA, prescribed aerobic exercise and reduced screen time are beneficial following SRC. Strict physical rest until symptom resolution is not effective, and sleep disturbance impairs recovery after SRC. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020158928.

Practical Management: A Standardized Aerobic Exercise Program for Adolescents With Concussion in the Absence of Graded Exercise Testing.

ABSTRACT: Aerobic exercise is safe and beneficial for adolescent athletes recovering from sport-related concussion (SRC). The results of systematic graded exercise testing are used to create individualized, subsymptom heart rate threshold (HRt) aerobic exercise treatment programs for adolescents after SRC. Many clinicians, however, do not have access to graded exercise tests. This article presents a safe, systematic, evidence-based exercise program that clinicians can prescribe, progress, and modify to help manage acute pediatric SRC without the need for formal exercise testing. The exercise prescription accounts for sex and days since injury but not age because our analysis indicates age does not significantly affect the HRt on graded exercise testing. This article provides clinicians without access to graded exercise testing a viable option for prescribing exercise treatment to adolescents in the early phase after SRC.

Exercise-Induced Vision Dysfunction Early After Sport-Related Concussion Is Associated With Persistent Postconcussive Symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if exercise-induced vision dysfunction [reduced performance and/or symptom exacerbation on a post-exercise King-Devick (KD) test] in adolescents early after sport-related concussion was associated with increased risk of persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS, recovery >28 days). We used exercise as a provocative maneuver before the KD test, hypothesizing that concussed adolescents with exercise-induced vision dysfunction would be more likely to develop PPCS. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data from a multi-center, randomized clinical trial comparing KD test performance before and after the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test in adolescents within 10 days of sport-related concussion who were randomized to aerobic exercise or placebo stretching program. SETTING: Three university-associated sports medicine clinical programs. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-nine adolescents with sport-related concussion (exercise group: n = 50, 15.3 ± 1 years, 60% M, 22% with PPCS; stretching group: n = 49, 15.9 ± 1 years, 65% M, 35% with PPCS) tested a mean of 6 ± 2 days from injury. INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: King-Devick test performed immediately before and 2 minutes after Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Persistent post-concussive symptoms. RESULTS: Adolescents who demonstrated exercise-induced vision dysfunction upon initial evaluation developed PPCS at a significantly greater rate when compared with adolescents who did not (71% vs 34%, P < 0.001). Exercise-induced vision dysfunction corresponded to a relative risk of 3.13 for PPCS. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with exercise-induced vision dysfunction had a 3-fold greater relative risk of developing PPCS than those without exercise-induced vision dysfunction.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Physical Violence-Related Acquired Brain Injury Among Visitors to Justice Center in New York.

OBJECTIVE: The recent United States Government Accountability Office report highlights the need for improved data on the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV)-related acquired brain injury (ABI) to help direct Health & Human Services public efforts. This article identifies the prevalence and risk factors for IPV-related ABI among survivors of IPV at a Justice Center in New York. SETTING: Community Justice Center. PARTICIPANTS: Forty survivors of IPV, aged 17 to 73 years (median 32, interquartile range: 25.25, 42) were assessed within 60 days of sustaining physical violence. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. MAIN MEASURES: The HELPS and the Danger Assessment-Revised were used at the initial Center visit. RESULTS: Of the 40 physical IPV survivors screened, all (100%) reported a prior history of partner-induced ABI within the past 60 days. Thirty-seven (92.5%) survivors also reported sustaining at least 1 potential hypoxic brain injury from strangulation. However, only 16 (40%) survivors screened positive on the HELPS for a history of IPV-related mild traumatic brain injury. Females (95%) and individuals with low income (67.5%) largely comprised our sample. Compared with the County's average, the proportion of African Americans/Blacks and refugees was 227% higher (42.5% vs 13%) and 650% higher (7.5% vs 1.09%), respectively. Refugee status (P = .017) also correlated with number of previous ABIs. On an exploratory binary logistic regression with stepwise selection, only balance difficulties (P = .023) and difficulty concentrating/remembering (P = .009) predicted a positive screen for mild traumatic brain injury. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with previous findings, our data indicate a high prevalence of IPV-related ABI among visitors to a New York Justice Center. An overrepresentation of African Americans/Blacks and refugees in our sample relative to the region signified a higher prevalence of IPV in these populations and warrants a provision of more trauma-informed ABI resources to these groups/communities. Intimate partner violence survivors visiting Justice Centers should be screened for motor/neurocognitive symptoms suggestive of mild traumatic brain injury. Further research to identify the prevalence and risk factors of IPV-related ABI statewide and nationwide is urgently needed to improve resource allocation and clinical management.

Practical Management: Telehealth Examination for Sport-Related Concussion in the Outpatient Setting.

ABSTRACT: This article presents the telehealth version of the Buffalo Concussion Physical Examination (BCPE) (Tele-BCPE). It is a brief, focused telehealth PE for use in the outpatient setting by sports medicine physicians, pediatricians, neurologists, and primary care physicians. It is derived from the BCPE and includes general considerations for providers performing telehealth services and instructions for adapting traditional clinical tests for virtual use. The Tele-BCPE includes an orthostatic intolerance screen, examination of the cranial nerves, and tests of the oculomotor, vestibular, and cervical systems. It is meant to be used at initial and follow-up outpatient visits for patients acutely after concussion and in those with prolonged symptoms. This telehealth PE, when combined with other assessments, can help provide direct treatment to patients at any stage after concussion and reduce barriers to healthcare access posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and for patients living in rural or underserved areas.

Association of Concussion History and Prolonged Recovery in Youth.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the number of prior concussions associated with increased incidence of persistent postconcussive symptoms (PPCS) in a cohort of acutely concussed pediatric patients. DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Three university-affiliated concussion clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred seventy participants (14.9 ± 1.9 years, 62% male, 54% with prior concussion) were assessed within 14 days of concussion and followed to clinical recovery. Participants with a second head injury before clinical recovery were excluded. MEASURES AND MAIN OUTCOME: Concussion history, current injury characteristics, recovery time, and risk for prolonged recovery from current concussion. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant change in PPCS risk for participants with 0, 1 or 2 prior concussions; however, participants with 3 or more prior concussions had a significantly greater risk of PPCS. Twelve participants sustained a subsequent concussion after clinical recovery from their first injury and were treated as a separate cohort. Our secondary analysis found that these participants took longer to recover and had a greater incidence of PPCS during recovery from their latest concussion. CONCLUSION: Pediatric patients with a history of 3 or more concussions are at greater risk of PPCS than those with fewer than 3 prior concussions.

Rehabilitation of Concussion and Persistent Postconcussive Symptoms.

Concussion and persistent postconcussive symptoms (PPCS) are encountered by clinicians in sports medicine, pediatrics, neurology, physiatry, emergency medicine, and primary care. Clinical management may require a multidisciplinary approach. This article presents a structured method for the diagnosis of concussion and PPCS in the outpatient setting, which includes a history, physical examination, and additional tests as clinically indicated to help identify underlying symptom generators. Treatment for concussion and PPCS should be individualized, based on predominant signs and symptoms, and can include subsymptom threshold aerobic exercise, cervical physical therapy, vestibulo-ocular rehabilitation, behavioral and cognitive psychotherapy, and some symptom-specific pharmacological therapies.

Management of Concussion and Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms for Neurologists.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Concussion is a complex injury that may present as a variety of clinical profiles, which can overlap and reinforce one another. This review summarizes the medical management of patients with concussion and persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS). RECENT FINDINGS: Management of concussion and PPCS relies on identifying underlying symptom generators. Treatment options include sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise, cervical physical therapy, vestibular therapy, vision therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, cognitive behavioral therapy, pharmacological management, or a combination of treatments. Evidence-based treatments have emerged to treat post-concussion symptom generators for sport-related concussion and for patients with PPCS.

Clinical Assessment of Concussion and Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms for Neurologists.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Concussion produces a variety of signs and symptoms. Most patients recover within 2-4 weeks, but a significant minority experiences persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS), some of which may be from associated cervical or persistent neurologic sub-system (e.g., vestibular) dysfunction. This review provides evidence-based information for a pertinent history and physical examination of patients with concussion. RECENT FINDINGS: The differential diagnosis of PPCS is based on the mechanism of injury, a thorough medical history and concussion-pertinent neurological and cervical physical examinations. The concussion physical examination focuses on elements of autonomic function, oculomotor and vestibular function, and the cervical spine. Abnormalities identified on physical examination can inform specific forms of rehabilitation to help speed recovery. Emerging data show that there are specific symptom generators after concussion that can be identified by a thorough history, a pertinent physical examination, and adjunct tests when indicated.

Symptoms upon postural change and orthostatic hypotension in adolescents with concussion.

Objective: Concussion is associated with dysautonomia, altered blood pressure (BP) control, and may cause Orthostatic Hypotension (OH). We measured prevalence of OH using the 1-minute supine-to-standing OH Test in adolescents with concussion and controls.Participants: Adolescents within 10 days of injury (Concussion Group, n = 297, 15.0 ± 1.7 years, 59% male) were compared with controls (Control Group, n = 214, 15.0 ± 1.5 years, 58% male).Methods: BP, heart rate (HR), and complaints of lightheadedness/dizziness were measured after 2-minute supine and 1-minute standing. Control Group was assessed once. Concussion Group was assessed twice; (1) initial visit (mean 6.0 ± 3 days-since-injury) and (2) after clinical recovery (mean 46.3 ± 42 days-since-injury).Results: Initial visit; Concussion Group reported feeling lightheaded/dizzy on postural change more often than the Control Group (37% vs 4%, p < .001) but did not differ in meeting standard OH criteria (3% vs 5%, p = .32). Experiencing symptoms did not correlate with meeting OH criteria, but correlated with abnormal vestibulo-ocular reflex. After clinical recovery; Concussion Group did not differ in experiencing lightheaded/dizziness on postural change than controls (4%, p = .65).Conclusion: Adolescents commonly experience orthostatic intolerance after concussion without meeting the standard criteria for OH.

Derivation of the Buffalo Concussion Physical Examination risk of delayed recovery (RDR) score to identify children at risk for persistent postconcussive symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: The Buffalo Concussion Physical Examination (BCPE) is a brief, but pertinent physical examination designed for the subacute, outpatient assessment of concussion. The purpose of this study was to perform the BCPE on a larger sample and derive a scoring system to identify children at risk for Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms (PPCS, recovery ≥30 days). METHODS: This prospective, observational cohort study from September 2016 to March 2019 was performed at three university-affiliated concussion clinics. Male and female children (n=270, 14.92±1.86 years, range 8-18, 38% female) were diagnosed with a concussion within 14 days of injury and followed-up until recovery. Logistic regression was used with history and physical examination variables to predict PPCS and a weighted scoring metric was derived. RESULTS: Out of 15 predictor variables, the main effects of 1 preinjury variable (≥3 previous concussions), 2 injury characteristic variables (days-since-injury and type-of-injury), 3 physical examination variables (orthostatic intolerance (OI), vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and tandem gait) and 2 interaction terms (OI/VOR and tandem gait/type-of-injury) produced a score that was 85% accurate for identifying children with low-risk, medium-risk and high-risk for PPCS on cross-validation. CONCLUSION: The Risk for Delayed Recovery (RDR)-Score allows physicians in an outpatient setting to more accurately predict which children are at greater risk for PPCS early after their injury, and who would benefit most from targeted therapies. The RDR-Score is intended to be used as part of a comprehensive assessment that should include validated symptom checklists, mental health history and adjunct testing (eg, cognitive or physical exertion) where clinically indicated.

Practical Management: Prescribing Subsymptom Threshold Aerobic Exercise for Sport-Related Concussion in the Outpatient Setting.

ABSTRACT: Exercise intolerance is an objective biomarker of the physiological dysfunction after sport-related concussion (SRC). Several trials have established the safety and clinical efficacy of subsymptom threshold aerobic exercise prescribed within 1 week of injury as treatment for SRC. Clinicians, however, may not be comfortable prescribing aerobic exercise after SRC. This article presents 3 methods of exercise prescription for patients with SRC. The first requires a graded exertion test plus a home-based exercise program requiring a heart rate (HR) monitor. The second requires a graded exertion test but no HR monitor for home-based exercise. The third requires solely an HR monitor to safely progress through the home-based exercise prescription. Patients are encouraged to keep a symptom and exercise diary and return for re-evaluation every 1 to 2 weeks. Delayed recovery should prompt the clinician to evaluate for other potential symptom generators (eg, cervical, vestibular, oculomotor, mood, or migraine disorders).

Derivation of a Focused, Brief Concussion Physical Examination for Adolescents With Sport-Related Concussion.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the derivation of a brief but pertinent physical examination (PE) for adolescents who have sustained sport-related concussion (SRC). DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: University concussion management clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Acutely concussed (AC, n = 52, 15.5 ± 1.4 years, 4.4 ± 2 days since injury, 26.2 ± 38 days to recovery, 71% males) and healthy control (HC) adolescents (n = 30, 15.8 ± 1.4 years, 73% males). INTERVENTION: Acutely concussed had a PE on visit 1 and were retested at visit 2 (13.6 ± 1 day after visit 1). Acutely concussed were further characterized as normal recovery (NR, n = 41, 15.5 ± 1.5 years, recovery time 13.0 ± 7 days) and delayed recovery (DR, n = 11, 15.5 ± 1.2 years, recovery time 75.4 ± 63 days). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Physical examination findings, including cervical, vestibular, and oculomotor systems. RESULTS: Visit 1 abnormal PE signs were significantly greater in AC versus HC (2.79 ± 2.13 vs 0.07 ± 0.37, P < 0.0001) but not in NR versus DR (2.61 ± 2.2 vs 3.45 ± 1.8, P = 0.246). Visit 2 abnormal PE signs differentiated NR versus DR (0.17 ± 0.7 vs 2.45 ± 2.1, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: A brief focused PE can help to diagnose SRC, establish recovery, and may have prognostic value.