Aerobic Training for Management of Post-Concussion Syndrome in Adolescents

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Status: Completed

Conditions: Concussion; Sports Injury; Post-concussion Syndrome

Treatments: Behavioral: Stretching Intervention; Behavioral: Aerobic Training Intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02035579

SPR112665

Details and patient eligibility

About

Sports-related concussions are common in adolescent-athletes. Prolonged recovery after concussion or post-concussion syndrome (PCS) is a public health problem. This project will determine the effectiveness of an aerobic exercise program for management of PCS and it will evaluate the influence of exercise on biologic correlates of PCS.

Full description

Concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a public health problem and it is imperative that efficacious treatment protocols be developed to reduce the morbidity associated with PCS in adolescents. In adolescent athletes, timely return of normal neurocognitive function and return to sports safely is critical to normal development. The proposed study will fill a critical gap by systematically evaluating the potential efficacy of an aerobic training intervention for management of PCS in adolescents. To our knowledge, this will be the first randomized controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of aerobic training for treatment of PCS in adolescents as soon as four weeks after injury. The study will also improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of PCS and the biologic influence of aerobic training on PCS. The proposed study will fill a critical gap and inform the development of larger studies to assess the efficacy, and if proven efficacious, optimize the timing and intensity of aerobic training treatment protocols, thus transforming the care and limiting the adverse public impact of this condition.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 12 to 17 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adolescents ages 12 to 17 years
• Experienced a concussion 4 to 16 weeks prior to enrollment
• Experiencing persistent post-concussion symptoms

Exclusion criteria

• Sustained a moderate to severe head injury, head injury more severe than concussion or required an overnight hospital stay
• Younger than 12 years of age when beginning the study.
• Older than 17 years of age when beginning the study.
• Do not live with a parent/guardian.
• Injured more than 16 weeks ago.
• Do not speak or read English.
• Diagnosed with a developmental disability.
• Neurological impairment, cognitive disorders, genetic disorders, metabolic disorders, blood disorder, cardiovascular problem/disease, and/or cancer.
• Inpatient admission for a psychiatric disorder within the past 12 months.
• Taking beta-blockers, anti-depressants, and/or anti-epileptic medications that cannot be discontinued while participating in the study.
• Cardiovascular condition that would preclude participation in the training protocol.
• Any condition that precludes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• Females that are pregnant or become pregnant during the study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Aerobic Training Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Children with PCS who are eligible for the study will be randomized to a progressive, sub-symptom exacerbation, cycling aerobic training intervention or stretching comparison intervention. Children with PCS that meet criteria for the intervention trial will complete a baseline evaluation followed by a one week run-in-period (week 0-1) prior to their first intervention visit. After the initial intervention visit, weekly visits will be completed for at least 6 additional weeks (i.e., at least 6 weeks of aerobic training). An individualized home exercise program 5-6 days per week will also be developed. Children will be provided with a home stationary cycle to complete the home program.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Aerobic Training Intervention

Stretching Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Children in the stretching intervention will complete a series of full body stretches of the shoulders, arms, chest, back, legs, and feet 5-6 days per week and will return weekly to review the stretching program. The minimum duration of the stretching intervention will also be 6 weeks

Treatment:

Behavioral: Stretching Intervention