Exercise for Sport-Related Concussion and Persistent Postconcussive Symptoms

Overview

Journal Sports Health

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Orthopedics

Date 2020 Nov 4

PMID 33147117

Citations 10

Authors

Mohammad Nadir Haider

Itai Bezherano

Alex Wertheimer

Akas H Siddiqui

Emily C Horn

Barry S Willer

John J Leddy

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Context: Emerging research supports the use of mild to moderate aerobic exercise for treating sport-related concussion (SRC) and persistent postconcussive symptoms (PPCS), yet the current standard of care remains to be strict rest. The purpose of this review is to summarize the existing literature on physical activity and prescribed exercise for SRC and PPCS.

Evidence Acquisition: PubMed and Embase were searched in April of 2019 for studies assessing rest or prescribed exercise for SRC and PPCS. No specific search syntax was used.

Study Design: Clinical review.

Level Of Evidence: Level 4.

Results: A majority of studies show that spontaneous physical activity is safe after SRC and that subsymptom threshold aerobic exercise safely speeds up recovery after SRC and reduces symptoms in those with PPCS. Exercise tolerance can safely be assessed using graded exertion test protocols within days of injury, and the degree of early exercise tolerance has diagnostic and prognostic value.

Conclusion: Subsymptom threshold aerobic exercise is safe and effective for the treatment of SRC as well as in athletes with PPCS. Further research is warranted to establish the most effective method and dose of aerobic exercise for the active treatment of SRC and whether early exercise treatment can prevent PPCS in athletes.

Strength Of Recommendation Taxonomy: 2.

Citing Articles

Response of Central Nervous System Biomolecules and Systemic Biomarkers to Aerobic Exercise Following Concussion: A Scoping Review of Human and Animal Research.

Cordingley D, Marquez I, Buchwald S, Zeiler F Neurotrauma Rep. 2024; 5(1):708-720.

PMID: 39114375 PMC: 11301856. DOI: 10.1089/neur.2024.0062.

National Athletic Trainers' Association Bridge Statement: Management of Sport-Related Concussion.

Broglio S, Register-Mihalik J, Guskiewicz K, Leddy J, Merriman A, Valovich McLeod T J Athl Train. 2024; 59(3):225-242.

PMID: 38530653 PMC: 10976337. DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-0046.22.

Quality of Life Differences in Children and Adolescents With 0, 1 to 2, or 3+ Persistent Postconcussion Symptoms.

Chandler M, Bloom J, Fonseca J, Ramsey K, De Maio V, Callahan C J Athl Train. 2023; 58(9):767-774.

PMID: 37347117 PMC: 11215729. DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-0552.22.

A Continuous Aerobic Resistance Exercise Protocol for Concussion Rehabilitation Delivered Remotely via a Mobile App: Feasibility Study.

Hutchison M, Di Battista A, Loenhart M JMIR Form Res. 2023; 7:e45321.

PMID: 37335605 PMC: 10337420. DOI: 10.2196/45321.

Implementation of active injury management (AIM) in youth with acute concussion: A randomized controlled trial.

Thomas D, Erpenbach H, Hickey R, Waltzman D, Haarbauer-Krupa J, Nelson L Contemp Clin Trials. 2022; 123:106965.

PMID: 36252936 PMC: 10924688. DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2022.106965.

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