Citation

Grandhi R, Tavakoli S, Ortega C, Simmonds MJ. Brain Sci. 2017; 7(12): e7120160.

Affiliation

Department of Physical Therapy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. simmondsm@uthscsa.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Switzerland Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI) AG)

DOI

10.3390/brainsci7120160

PMID

29211026

Abstract

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is commonly encountered in clinical practice. While the cognitive ramifications of mTBI are frequently described in the literature, the impact of mTBI on emotional, sensory, and motor function is not as commonly discussed. Chronic pain is a phenomenon more prevalent among patients with mTBI compared to those with moderate or severe traumatic brain injury. Chronic pain can become a primary disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) expressed as widespread pain, and cognitive, mood, and movement dysfunction. Shared mechanisms across chronic pain conditions can account for how pain is generated and maintained in the CNS, irrespective of the underlying structural pathology. Herein, we review the impact of mTBI on cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor domains, and the role of pain as an important confounding variable in patient recovery and dysfunction following mTBI.

Language: en

Keywords

cognition; concussion; mood; movement; pain; traumatic brain injury