aerobic exercise and cognitive training effects on postconcussive symptomology

Conditions: Post-Concussion Syndrome; Post-Traumatic Headache; Post-Concussive Syndrome, Chronic; Head Injury; MTBI - Mild Traumatic Brain Injury; Acquired Brain Injury; Closed Head Injury

Summary: the purpose of this study is to compare a 4-week, moderately intensive, lab and home-based aerobic exercise program versus exercise plus cognitive training. participants will include individuals who experience lingering symptoms of a head injury or concussion.

eligible participants will engage in 30 minute bouts of aerobic exercise three times per week followed by a 20-minute post-exercise activity. randomization will place participants into one of three groups: (1) aerobic exercise + cognitive training, (2) aerobic exercise + videos, or (3) waitlist control. post-exercise activities will be delivered via participants' smartphone device by downloading the appropriate cognitive training platform or online video link. baseline and post-intervention assessments will consist of symptom reporting, cognitive measures, and psychosocial questionnaires. physiological measures including heart rate and blood pressure will be assessed at baseline and at follow-up as well as during each in-lab exercise session. the wait-list control group is asked to complete all baseline and follow-up assessments and resume normal activity during the four weeks. the first week of exercise will take place in a lab-based environment, while weeks 2-4 will take place outside of the lab (participants must have access to exercise equipment at home or local fitness facility).

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * must have history of at least one concussion (onset was at age 18 or later) * ability to exercise at moderate to vigorous activity levels (defined as 50%-75% of the adjusted age-predicted maximum heart rate) * experiencing persistent symptoms (persistent defined as, most days per week for at least 2 weeks since sustaining injury) resulting from concussion or head injury * access to a smartphone and willingness to allow research staff to install application (and space to allow for installation) * access to a treadmill to complete exercise outside of lab environment * willingness to provide proof of concussion or head injury medical diagnosis * willingness to provide contact information of individual to confirm persistent symptoms if medical diagnosis is unavailable * willingness to be randomized into one of three groups exclusion criteria: * no history of concussion, head injury, or mild traumatic brain injury * experiencing less than 3 persistent symptoms (persistent defined as, most days per week for at least 2 weeks since sustaining injury) * no access to a smartphone * no access to a treadmill * too active (as defined by regular exercise most days per week for 30+ minutes over the past 3 months) * unable or unwilling to comply to lab and home-based exercise prescription * unable or unwilling to commit to full length of program * incapable of performing moderately intensive aerobic exercise or sustaining attention to screen for 20 minutes * unwilling to be randomized to one of 3 groups * unable to commute to and from uiuc campus * already involved in regular weekly physical activity or cognitive training program * had previously diagnosed mental health condition (e.g., major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder) * current involvement in litigation specific to injury

Keywords: post-concussion mild traumatic brain injury head injury headache aerobic exercise cognitive training brain training home-based intervention social cognitive neuroscience