@article{ref1,
title="The role of sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise for persistent concussion symptoms in patients with post-concussion syndrome: a systematic review",
journal="American journal of physical medicine and rehabilitation",
year="2019",
author="McIntyre, McKyla and Kempenaar, Ainsley and Amiri, Mohammadreza and Alavinia, Seyed Mohammad and Kumbhare, Dinesh",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="In recent years there has been a shift away from rest until total symptom resolution after concussion, due to the potential adverse consequences of inactivity. Aerobic exercise has been increasingly investigated for the treatment of post-concussion syndrome (PCS), whereby symptoms persist beyond 4 weeks. The purpose of this review was to systematically review the literature on sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise (SSTAE) as a treatment for PCS. We conducted systematic literature searches in databases: MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL, PubMed, and Embase. After thorough review, 12 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in the systematic review. The quality of selected studies was low to moderate. SSTAE was associated with improvement in symptoms in patients with PCS for all included studies. The most commonly used protocols incorporated 20 minutes of exercise at 80% of the heart rate that provoked symptoms, 5-6 days per week, with no adverse events documented. However, there was considerable variation in exercise protocols, and many studies incorporated SSTAE as part of a broader rehabilitation plan. Evidence supports SSTAE as a promising treatment for PCS. Further studies are required to delineate the optimal intensity, duration and frequency of exercise for PCS in a variety of populations.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0894-9115",
doi="10.1097/PHM.0000000000001340",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000001340"
}