Sport-related concussion in para athletes: A scoping review of concussion incidence, assessment, and management.

ABSTRACT: Although research on sport-related concussion has grown substantially in the last decade, research on concussion in para sports remains limited. The aim of this scoping review is to synthesize and describe the current literature on the incidence, assessment, and management of sport-related concussion in para athletes. The literature search was conducted in CINAHL, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science databases and identified 22 studies that addressed one of our research questions. A majority of studies addressed concussion in elite athletes; youth and collegiate para athletes were largely under-represented. Fewer studies addressed concussion assessment and management, in part due to limitations in accessibility of current assessment tools for athletes with varying disabilities. Moving forward, there is a need to capture a larger range of incidence data, create modified assessment tools with para-specific normative data, and develop risk prevention strategies for para athletes.

Access to athletic trainers and sex as modifiers of time to reach clinical milestones after sport-related concussion in collegiate athletes.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate whether an athlete's biological sex and exposure to a dedicated athletic trainer (AT) were related to clinical milestones after a sports-related concussion (SRC). DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: Medical charts of collegiate athletes (n = 196 [70.9% female]) diagnosed with SRC were reviewed to extract: biological sex, dedicated AT exposure for their sport (yes/no), and time (days) to reaching clinical milestones (diagnosis, symptom resolution, unrestricted return to sport [RTS]). Mann-Whitney U tests were used to determine whether time to clinical milestones differed by sex, AT exposure, or their interaction. Proportions of same-day diagnoses and times to diagnosis, symptom resolution, and unrestricted RTS were evaluated with chi-squared and spearman's rank correlations, respectively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in times to reaching any clinical milestone by sex, AT exposure, or their interaction (ps > 0.05). Forty-three percent of participants were diagnosed on the day of their SRC. This did not differ by sex or AT exposure (ps > 0.29). Longer times to SRC diagnosis were associated with more days to symptom resolution (ρ = 0.236, p = 0.001) and unrestricted RTS (ρ = 0.223, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Athlete sex and AT exposure were not associated with times to reach any clinical milestone; however, delayed diagnosis was associated with longer times to reach clinical recovery.

Concussion: Beyond the Cascade.

Sport concussion affects millions of athletes each year at all levels of sport. Increasing evidence demonstrates clinical and physiological recovery are becoming more divergent definitions, as evidenced by several studies examining blood-based biomarkers of inflammation and imaging studies of the central nervous system (CNS). Recent studies have shown elevated microglial activation in the CNS in active and retired American football players, as well as in active collegiate athletes who were diagnosed with a concussion and returned to sport. These data are supportive of discordance in clinical symptomology and the inflammatory response in the CNS upon symptom resolution. In this review, we will summarize recent advances in the understanding of the inflammatory response associated with sport concussion and broader mild traumatic brain injury, as well as provide an outlook for important research questions to better align clinical and physiological recovery.

Multifocal hypometabolic correlates to deficits of verbal memory in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Neuropsychological research on mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) often highlights material-specific memory deficits, but a lesion-focused model may not accurately reflect the underlying networks that support episodic memory in these patients. Our study evaluated the pathophysiology behind verbal learning/memory deficits as revealed by hypometabolism quantified through 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). METHODS: This retrospective study included thirty presurgical patients with intractable unilateral MTLE who underwent interictal FDG-PET and verbal memory assessment (12 females, mean age: 38.73 years). Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography mapping was performed with voxel-based mapping of glucose utilization to a database of age-matched controls to derive regional Z-scores. Neuropsychological outcome variables included scores on learning and recall trials of two distinct verbal memory measures validated for use in epilepsy research. Pearson's correlations evaluated relationships between clinical variables and verbal memory. Linear regression was used to relate regional hypometabolism and verbal memory assessment. Post hoc analyses assessed areas of FDG-PET hypometabolism (threshold Z ≤ -1.645 below mean) where verbal memory was impaired. RESULTS: Verbal memory deficits correlated with hypometabolism in limbic structures ipsilateral to language dominance but also correlated with hypometabolism in networks involving the ipsilateral perisylvian cortex and contralateral limbic and nonlimbic structures. DISCUSSION: We conclude that traditional models of verbal memory may not adequately capture cognitive deficits in a broader sample of patients with MTLE. This study has important implications for epilepsy surgery protocols that use neuropsychological data and FDG-PET to draw conclusions about surgical risks.

Microglial activation persists beyond clinical recovery following sport concussion in collegiate athletes.

Introduction: In concussion, clinical and physiological recovery are increasingly recognized as diverging definitions. This study investigated whether central microglial activation persisted in participants with concussion after receiving an unrestricted return-to-play (uRTP) designation using [18F]DPA-714 PET, an in vivo marker of microglia activation. Methods: Eight (5 M, 3 F) current athletes with concussion (Group 1) and 10 (5 M, 5 F) healthy collegiate students (Group 2) were enrolled. Group 1 completed a pre-injury (Visit1) screen, follow-up Visit2 within 24 h of a concussion diagnosis, and Visit3 at the time of uRTP. Healthy participants only completed assessments at Visit2 and Visit3. At Visit2, all participants completed a multidimensional battery of tests followed by a blood draw to determine genotype and study inclusion. At Visit3, participants completed a clinical battery of tests, brain MRI, and brain PET; no imaging tests were performed outside of Visit3. Results: For Group 1, significant differences were observed between Visits 1 and 2 (p < 0.05) in ImPACT, SCAT5 and SOT performance, but not between Visit1 and Visit3 for standard clinical measures (all p > 0.05), reflecting clinical recovery. Despite achieving clinical recovery, PET imaging at Visit3 revealed consistently higher [18F]DPA-714 tracer distribution volume (VT) of Group 1 compared to Group 2 in 10 brain regions (p < 0.001) analyzed from 164 regions of the whole brain, most notably within the limbic system, dorsal striatum, and medial temporal lobe. No notable differences were observed between clinical measures and VT between Group 1 and Group 2 at Visit3. Discussion: Our study is the first to demonstrate persisting microglial activation in active collegiate athletes who were diagnosed with a sport concussion and cleared for uRTP based on a clinical recovery.

Neuropsychological and Balance Symptoms of Abused Women Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence-Related Strangulation: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health crisis that results in acute and long-term health consequences for women, including potential acquired brain injury from non-fatal strangulation. Despite existing evidence on the neuropsychological sequelae experienced by women after experiencing IPV-related assault, limited evidence-based treatment protocols exist for these women. This 14-month study sought to: 1) assess the feasibility and acceptability of recruiting women who experienced strangulation associated with IPV within 7 days of the event and retaining them throughout a 3-month follow-up period; and 2) examine preliminary data from neuropsychological, balance, and symptom assessments. Inclusion criteria were: reported strangulation by an intimate partner in the past 7 days, female, 18-60 years of age, English speaking, and able to consent. Neuropsychological, balance, and symptom assessments were administered at the first time point and again 3 months later. Participants also completed a standardized daily symptom inventory. Eight participants (73%) were recruited and completed daily inventories and the baseline assessment; 4 (36%) completed the baseline and 3-month assessments. Of the 4 participants who completed the 3-month assessment, none reported symptom resolution. Only balance returned to values consistent with normative values. Our results demonstrate the ability to recruit women who have experienced IPV-related strangulation during the post-acute phase of injury with less success retaining participants for a 90-day period for follow-up study. This pilot research protocol demonstrated the feasibility of recruitment from the emergency department and systematic evaluation of neuropsychological and functional symptoms in women who experienced strangulation in the context of IPV.

Reevaluating clinical assessment outcomes after unrestricted return to play following sport-related concussion.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine neurocognition, postural control, and symptomology at multiple timepoints following concussion. We hypothesized that collegiate athletes would perform similar to or better than their baseline in terms of each outcome at both timepoints. RESEARCH DESIGN: This was a retrospective study of 71 collegiate athletes (18.3 ± 0.89 years old; 182.2 ± 10.05 cm; 84.2 ± 20.07 kg) to observe changes in outcomes from a previously established clinical protocol. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Participants were administered ImPACT™, the Sensory Organization Test (SOT), and the revised head injury scale (HIS-r) prior to their seasons (baseline); upon reporting symptom-free following concussion (post-injury); and approximately 8-months after return-to-play to establish a new baseline. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: There were no changes in ImPACT scores or HIS-r reporting over time. ImPACT total symptom score (TSS) decreased over time (p = .002, ηp2 = 0.08). Significant main effects occurred for the SOT equilibrium score (p < .01, ηp2 = 0.34) and Vestibular sensory ratio (p < .001, ηp2 = 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest no decline in neurocognition, balance, or symptom burden approximately eight months post-injury. As clinicians continue to explore "best practices" for concussion management and potential long-term implications of these injuries it is important to monitor outcome measures longitudinally.

Mood, Psychological, and Behavioral Factors of Health-Related Quality of Life Throughout Recovery From Sport Concussion.

OBJECTIVE: To measure alterations in mood, psychological, and behavioral factors in collegiate athletes throughout recovery from sport concussion (SC) compared with matched controls. SETTING: University research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty (55% female) division I collegiate athletes with SC (19.3 ± 1.08 years old, 1.77 ± 0.11 m, 79.6 ± 23.37 kg) and 20 (55% female) uninjured matched controls (20.8 ± 2.17 years old, 1.77 ± 0.10 m, 81.9 ± 23.45 kg). DESIGN: Longitudinal case control. MAIN MEASURES: Self-reported concussion-related symptoms, anxiety, resilience, stigma, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and appetite were assessed at 3 time points in the SC group: T1 (≤72 hours of SC), T2 (7 days after T1), and TF (after symptom resolution). Control participants were evaluated at similar intervals. Group and group-by-sex differences were assessed using repeated-measures analyses of variance. Post hoc analyses were performed with Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) and paired-sample t tests. RESULTS: The SC group had greater sleep disturbance than controls at T1 (P = .001; d = 1.21) and endorsed greater stigma at all time points (P ≤ .03; d ≥ 0.80). Stigma (F(2) = 3.68; P = 0.03; η2p = 0.12), sleep disturbance (F(2) = 5.27; P = .008; η2p = 0.15), and fatigue (F(2) = 3.46; P = .04; η2p = 0.11) improved throughout recovery in those with SC only. No differences were observed between males and females (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Sleep disturbance and stigma were negatively affected by SC, highlighting potential areas for clinical interventions to maximize recovery in males and females.

Factors Associated With Energy Expenditure and Energy Balance in Acute Sport-Related Concussion.

CONTEXT: Sport-related concussion (SRC) is characterized by a pathologic neurometabolic cascade that results in an increased intracranial energy demand and a decreased energy supply. Little is known about the whole-body energy-related effects of SRC. OBJECTIVE: To examine factors associated with whole-body resting metabolic rate (RMR), total energy expenditure (TEE), energy consumption (EC), and energy balance (EBal) in student-athletes acutely after SRC and healthy matched control individuals. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: University research laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Student-athletes diagnosed with SRC (n = 28, 50% female, age = 18.4 ± 1.8 years, body mass index [BMI] = 24.1 ± 4.1 kg/m2) assessed ≤72 hours postinjury and a matched control group (n = 28, 50% female, age = 19.4 ± 2.9 years, BMI = 24.7 ± 4.78 kg/m2). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Resting metabolic rate was measured via indirect calorimetry. Participants reported their physical activity and dietary intake for 3 days, which we used to estimate TEE and EC, respectively, and to calculate EBal (EC:TEE ratio). Resting metabolic rate, TEE, and EC were normalized to body mass. Group and group-by-sex comparisons were conducted for RMR·kg-1, TEE·kg-1, EC·kg-1, and EBal using independent t tests with the a priori α = .05. Associations of age, sex, concussion history, BMI, and symptom burden with RMR·kg-1 and EBal were explored with linear regression models. RESULTS: Total energy expenditure·kg-1 was lower (P < .01; mean difference ± SD = -5.31 ± 1.41 kcal·kg-1) and EBal was higher (P < .01; 0.28 ± 0.10) in SRC participants than in control participants. Both sexes with SRC had lower TEE·kg-1 than did the control participants (P values ≤ .04); females with SRC had higher EBal than controls (P = .01), but male groups did not differ. Higher RMR·kg-1 was associated with history of concussion (adjusted R2 = .10, ß = 0.65). Younger age (ß = -0.35), fewer concussions (ß = -0.35), lower BMI (ß = -0.32), greater symptom duration (ß = 1.50), and lower symptom severity (ß = -1.59) were associated with higher EBal (adjusted R2 = .54). CONCLUSIONS: Total energy expenditure·kg-1 and EBal appeared to be affected by acute SRC, despite no differences in RMR·kg-1. Sex, concussion history, BMI, and symptom burden were associated with acute energy-related outcomes.

The Effect of Muscle Activation on Head Kinematics During Non-injurious Head Impacts in Human Subjects.

In this study, twenty volunteers were subjected to three, non-injurious lateral head impacts delivered by a 3.7 kg padded impactor at 2 m/s at varying levels of muscle activation (passive, co-contraction, and unilateral contraction). Electromyography was used to quantify muscle activation conditions, and resulting head kinematics were recorded using a custom-fit instrumented mouthpiece. A multi-modal battery of diagnostic tests (evaluated using neurocognitive, balance, symptomatic, and neuroimaging based assessments) was performed on each subject pre- and post-impact. The passive muscle condition resulted in the largest resultant head linear acceleration (12.1 ± 1.8 g) and angular velocity (7.3 ± 0.5 rad/s). Compared to the passive activation, increasing muscle activation decreased both peak resultant linear acceleration and angular velocity in the co-contracted (12.1 ± 1.5 g, 6.8 ± 0.7 rad/s) case and significantly decreased in the unilateral contraction (10.7 ± 1.7 g, 6.5 ± 0.7 rad/s) case. The duration of angular velocity was decreased with an increase in neck muscle activation. No diagnostic metric showed a statistically or clinically significant alteration between baseline and post-impact assessments, confirming these impacts were non-injurious. This study demonstrated that isometric neck muscle activation prior to impact can reduce resulting head kinematics. This study also provides the data necessary to validate computational models of head impact.

Whole-Body Metabolism, Carbohydrate Utilization, and Caloric Energy Balance After Sport Concussion: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Sport concussion (SC) causes an energy crisis in the brain by increasing energy demand, decreasing energy supply, and altering metabolic resources. Whole-body resting metabolic rate (RMR) is elevated after more severe brain injuries, but RMR changes are unknown after SC. The purpose of this study was to longitudinally examine energy-related changes in collegiate athletes after SC. HYPOTHESIS: RMR and energy consumption will increase acutely after SC and will return to control levels with recovery. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4. METHODS: A total of 20 collegiate athletes with SC (mean age, 19.3 ± 1.08 years; mean height, 1.77 ± 0.11 m; mean weight, 79.6 ± 23.37 kg; 55% female) were compared with 20 matched controls (mean age, 20.8 ± 2.17 years; mean height, 1.77 ± 0.10 m; mean weight, 81.9 ± 23.45 kg; 55% female). RMR, percentage carbohydrate use (%CHO), and energy balance (EBal; ratio between caloric consumption and expenditure) were assessed 3 times: T1, ≤72 hours after SC; T2, 7 days after T1; and TF, after symptom resolution. A 2 × 2 × 3 (group × sex × time) multivariate analysis of variance assessed RMR, %CHO, and EBal. Changes in RMR, %CHO, and EBal (T1 to TF) were correlated with days to symptom-free and days to return to play in the concussed group. RESULTS: Women reported being symptom-free (median, 6 days; range, 3-10 days) sooner than men (median, 11 days; range, 7-16 days). RMR and %CHO did not differ across time between groups or for group × sex interaction. SC participants had higher EBal than controls at T1 (P = 0.016) and T2 (P = 0.010). In men with SC, increasing %CHO over time correlated with days to symptom-free (r = 0.735 and P = 0.038, respectively) and days to return to play (r = 0.829 and P = 0.021, respectively). CONCLUSION: Participants with SC were in energy surplus acutely after injury. Although women recovered more quickly than men, men had carbohydrate metabolism changes that correlated with recovery time. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This pilot study shows that male and female student-athletes may have differing physiologic responses to SC and that there may be a role for dietary intervention to improve clinical outcomes after SC.

If Not Now, When? An Absence of Neurocognitive and Postural Stability Deficits in Collegiate Athletes with One or More Concussions.

A history of concussion has been associated with decreased neurocognitive function and postural control. The purpose of our study was to compare neurocognitive function and postural control in collegiate athletes with and without varying histories of concussion. Collegiate athletes were divided into groups based on 0 (n = 129), 1 (n = 91), 2 (n = 52), and 3+ (n = 34) prior concussions. Participants in each group were carefully matched by sport, sex, height, weight, and age. Athletes were administered the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT™) and the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) as part of a standard of care pre-season assessment. Group ImPACT (Verbal and Visual Memory, Visual Motor Speed, and Reaction Time) and SOT (Equilibrium Score and Somatosensory, Visual, and Vestibular sensory ratios) outcome scores were compared using one-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs). Coefficients of variation (CVs) were also calculated for each outcome score and were compared using two-sample tests with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Participants with and without a history of concussion were not significantly different for any ImPACT or SOT outcome score (p's > 0.10). Groups (0, 1, 2, and 3+ previous concussions) were not different from each other for any ImPACT or SOT outcome score (p's ≥ 0.11). Likewise, the CVs associated with each ImPACT and SOT outcome score did not vary significantly between outcome scores for any group comparison (p ≥ 0.09). Our findings suggest that a history of one or more concussions does not influence neurocognitive performance or postural stability in collegiate athletes at their pre-season baseline assessment.

Institutionally Based ImPACT Test® Normative Values May Differ from Manufacturer-Provided Normative Values.

OBJECTIVE: The necessity for pre-injury baseline computerized neurocognitive assessments versus comparing post-concussion outcomes to manufacturer-provided normative data is unclear. Manufacturer-provided norms may not be equivalent to institution-specific norms, which poses risks for misclassifying the presence of impairment when comparing individual post-concussion performance to manufacturer-provided norms. The objective of this cohort study was to compare institutionally derived normative data to manufacturer-provided normative values provided by ImPACT® Applications, Incorporated. METHOD: National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 university student athletes (n = 952; aged 19.2 ± 1.4 years, 42.5% female) from one university participated in this study by completing pre-injury baseline Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT) assessments. Participants were separated into 4 groups based on ImPACT's age and gender norms: males <18 years old (n = 186), females <18 years old (n = 165), males >19 years old (n = 361) or females >19 years old (n = 240). Comparisons were made between manufacturer-provided norms and institutionally derived normative data for each of ImPACT's clinical composite scores: Verbal (VEM) and Visual (VIM) Memory, Visual Motor Speed (VMS), and Reaction Time (RT). Outcome scores were compared for all groups using a Chi-squared goodness of fit analysis. RESULTS: Institutionally derived normative data indicated above average performance for VEM, VIM, and VMS, and slightly below average performance for RT compared to the manufacturer-provided data (χ2 ≥ 20.867; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Differences between manufacturer- and institution-based normative value distributions were observed. This has implications for an increased risk of misclassifying impairment following a concussion in lieu of comparison to baseline assessment and therefore supports the need to utilize baseline testing when feasible, or otherwise compare to institutionally derived norms rather than manufacturer-provided norms.

Direct and indirect costs associated with stereotactic radiosurgery or open surgery for medial temporal lobe epilepsy: Results from the ROSE trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a less-invasive approach to surgery for medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy is associated with lower health care costs and costs of lost productivity over time, compared to open surgery. METHODS: We compared direct medical costs and indirect productivity costs associated with treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) in the ROSE (Radiosurgery or Open Surgery for Epilepsy) trial. Health care use was abstracted from hospital bills, the study database, and diaries in which participants recorded health care use and time lost from work while seeking care. Costs of use were calculated using a Medicare costing approach used in a prior study of the costs of ATL. The power of many analyses was limited by the sample size and data skewing. RESULTS: Combined treatment and follow-up costs (in thousands of US dollars) did not differ between SRS (n = 20, mean = $76.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 50.7-115.6) and ATL (n = 18, mean = $79.0, 95% CI = 60.09-103.8). Indirect costs also did not differ. More ATL than SRS participants were free of consciousness-impairing seizures in each year of follow-up (all P < 0.05). Costs declined following ATL (P = 0.005). Costs tended to increase over the first 18 months following SRS (P = 0.17) and declined thereafter (P = 0.06). This mostly reflected hospitalizations for SRS-related adverse events in the second year of follow-up. SIGNIFICANCE: Lower initial costs of SRS for medial temporal lobe epilepsy were largely offset by hospitalization costs related to adverse events later in the course of follow-up. Future studies of less-invasive alternatives to ATL will need to assess adverse events and major costs systematically and prospectively to understand the economic implications of adopting these technologies.

Visual field defects after radiosurgery versus temporal lobectomy for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: Findings of the ROSE trial.

PURPOSE: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) may be an alternative to anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Visual field defects (VFD) occur in 9-100% of patients following open surgery for MTLE. Postoperative VFD after minimally invasive versus open surgery may differ. METHODS: This prospective trial randomized patients with unilateral hippocampal sclerosis and concordant video-EEG findings to SRS versus ATL. Humphries perimetry was obtained at 24 m after surgery. VFD ratios (VFDR = proportion of missing homonymous hemifield with 0 = no VFD, 0.5 = complete superior quadrantanopsia) quantified VFD. Regressions of VFDR were evaluated against treatment arm and covariates. MRI evaluated effects of volume changes on VFDR. The relationships of VFDR with seizure remission and driving status 3 years after surgery were evaluated. RESULTS: No patients reported visual changes or had abnormal bedside examinations, but 49 of 54 (91%) of patients experienced VFD on formal perimetry. Neither incidence nor severity of VFDR differed significantly by treatment arm. VFDR severity was not associated with seizure remission or driving status. CONCLUSION: The nature of VFD was consistent with lesions of the optic radiations. Effective surgery (defined by seizure remission) of the mesial temporal lobe results in about a 90% incidence of typical VFD regardless of method.

Return to Learn After Sport-Related Concussion: A Survey of Secondary School and Collegiate Athletic Trainers.

CONTEXT: Recent recommendations have emphasized return-to-learn (RTL) protocols to aid athletes in recovery from sport-related concussion (SRC) but have been based primarily on anecdotal evidence. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the RTL practices of certified athletic trainers (ATs) after an SRC. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Online survey. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1083 individuals (27%) from a random sample of 4000 ATs in the National Athletic Trainers' Association membership database completed an electronic survey. Participants consisted of 729 self-identified secondary school ATs (SSATs; 67.3%; experience = 14.0 ± 9.7 years) and 354 self-identified collegiate ATs (CATs; 32.7%; experience = 13.4 ± 9.7 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We used χ2 analyses to assess respondent differences related to current knowledge, current practices, and available resources. Independent t tests were used to compare SSATs and CATs on years of certification and annual number of SRCs evaluated. RESULTS: Of our total respondents, 41.2% (n = 446) correctly indicated the absence of evidence-based RTL guidelines. Whereas most (73.9%, n = 800) respondents had an established RTL policy, only 38.1% (n = 413) used such guidelines in their clinical practice. Most (97.1%, n = 708) SSATs and 82.2% (n = 291) of CATs had access to (a) mental health professional(s); however, minorities of SSATs (21.4%, n = 156) and CATs (37.0%, n = 131) never accessed these resources to care for concussed student-athletes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that, despite the absence of empirical evidence, most surveyed ATs incorporated some form of RTL protocol in their SRC management policy. The varying AT knowledge, clinical practices, and resources highlighted by our results should be considered when creating or refining an RTL protocol.

Schoolteachers' and Administrators' Perceptions of Concussion Management and Implementation of Return-to-Learn Guideline.

BACKGROUND: Concussions are a public health concern and concussion management in school requires a team approach. We examined schoolteachers' and administrators' perceptions of concussions, management, and implementation of return-to-learn (RTL) guidelines. METHODS: We audio-recorded and transcribed semistructured interviews with teachers (N = 16) and administrators (N = 6) from a public school system. We analyzed data using an analytic induction and constant comparison approach. RESULTS: Two themes emerged: different understanding, and school context. Participants with no sport coaching experience were less familiar with concussions than those who coached a sport. Participants with personal experience with concussions were more sympathetic toward concussed students' needs. Teachers expressed feeling ill-equipped to implement RTL guidelines without specific instructions in the complex school environment. However, school administrators had minimal understanding of teacher-described challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Teachers and administrators recognize that concussions are a health concern, but differ in their perceptions of concussions, management, and implementation of RTL guidelines. Personal experiences mediate individual perceptions about concussions. The daily realities of a school environment complicate teachers' capacity to implement RTL guidelines. Conversely, school administrators did not express awareness of any challenges with concussion management. To best facilitate students' recovery schools should include all stakeholders when devising concussion management policies.