@article{ref1,
title="The effect of aerobic exercise on concussion recovery: a pilot clinical trial",
journal="Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society",
year="2021",
author="Snyder, Aliyah R. and Greif, Sarah M. and Clugston, James R. and FitzGerald, David B. and Yarrow, Joshua F. and Babikian, Talin and Giza, Christopher C. and Thompson, Floyd J. and Bauer, Russell M.",
volume="27",
number="8",
pages="790-804",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to pilot safety and tolerability of a 1-week aerobic exercise program during the post-acute phase of concussion (14-25 days post-injury) by examining adherence, symptom response, and key functional outcomes (e.g., cognition, mood, sleep, postural stability, and neurocognitive performance) in young adults. <br><br>METHOD: A randomized, non-blinded pilot clinical trial was performed to compare the effects of aerobic versus non-aerobic exercise (placebo) in concussion patients. The study enrolled three groups: 1) patients with concussion/mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) randomized to an aerobic exercise intervention performed daily for 1-week, 2) patients with concussion/mTBI randomized to a non-aerobic (stretching and calisthenics) exercise program performed daily for 1-week, and 3) non-injured, no intervention reference group. <br><br>RESULTS: Mixed-model analysis of variance results indicated a significant decrease in symptom severity scores from pre- to post-intervention (mean difference = -7.44, 95% CI [-12.37, -2.20]) for both concussion groups. However, the pre- to post-change was not different between groups. Secondary outcomes all showed improvements by post-intervention, but no differences in trajectory between the groups. By three months post-injury, all outcomes in the concussion groups were within ranges of the non-injured reference group. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study indicate that the feasibility and tolerability of administering aerobic exercise via stationary cycling in the post-acute time frame following post-concussion (14-25 days) period are tentatively favorable. Aerobic exercise does not appear to negatively impact recovery trajectories of neurobehavioral outcomes; however, tolerability may be poorer for patients with high symptom burden.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1355-6177",
doi="10.1017/S1355617721000886",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1355617721000886"
}