The Effects of a Sub-maximal Exercise Program on Adolescents Who Sustained a Concussion

The Effects of a Sub-maximal Exercise Program on Adolescents Who Sustained a Concussion

Patients who sustain a concussion will undergo a sub-maximal exercise protocol throughout their recovery. Cerebrovascular function, heart rate, and symptom severity, and exercise volume will be monitored throughout.

There has been recent change to the management of concussion, including the addition of exercise while a patient may still be experiencing symptoms. Some patients will be given a dose-dependent exercise prescription based on their own sub-maximal output. They will aerobically exercise at this given threshold for 8 weeks, while heart rate and symptom duration is tracked. Some patients will only follow physician prescribed exercise, while undergoing the same heart rate and symptom monitoring for 8 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Experienced a concussion within the last 2 weeks. Concussion will be diagnosed by board-certified sports medicine physicians, and defined as a direct or indirect blow to the head, face, neck, or elsewhere that manifests with the presence of symptoms and neurological impairment
• Low or moderate cardiac risk according to American College of Sports Medicine
• Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) score greater than 9

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of neurological surgery
• Seizure disorder
• Use of medication or medical device that would alter heart rate, blood pressure or autonomic function
• Any current, serious, chronic medical or psychiatric disease that, in the Principal Investigator's judgment, may interfere with study participation or data integrity
• Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent