Sub-maximal Exercise Prescription in Adolescents With Physiological Post-concussion Disorder

Although the vast majority of individuals sustaining a sport-related concussion (SRC) will receive medical clearance to return to sport within 7-10 days, approximately 30% of children and adolescents reporting to the emergency department will experience symptoms that last longer than a month. Research has demonstrated that exercise below the threshold that results in increases in symptoms, beyond those experienced at rest, (sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise) may be beneficial in recovery. However, the optimal amount and intensity of aerobic exercise for an individual to experience the most beneficial outcomes is currently unknown. Unfortunately there are limited Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT's) evaluating the benefits of aerobic exercise in a youth population. The current evidence includes studies with relatively small sample sizes, unreliable measurements of physical activity (self-report), and inherent biases through inadequate blinding. There is a need to develop and validate evidence-informed interventions as a means of treatment for limiting time loss from sport, and school in adolescents who experience persistent symptoms of sports related concussion beyond 10 days.

Research statement:This study is a multi-centre RCT. The purpose of the RCT is to evaluate the efficacy of a moderate intensity (80% symptom threshold heart rate (HR), Borg Rating of Perceived exertion (RPE) 12-16) sub-symptom aerobic exercise prescription compared to a conservative low level aerobic exercise group (60% HR, Borg RPE 7-11) on time to medical clearance to return to play in adolescents (aged 13-19) with suggested physiological Post-Concussion Disorder (P-PCD).

Secondary objectives are to 1) Measure the adherence patterns of youth who are prescribed a specific aerobic home exercise programs. 2) Monitor longitudinal symptom reduction on the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (SCAT5) (week 0 and medical clearance) 3) Track longitudinal changes in patient-reported outcomes (symptoms) through the use of the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) questionnaire. 4) Evaluate the association between cognitive activity and time to receive medical clearance to return to sport.

Methods: A multisite RCT will be conducted at the Pan Am Concussion Program, Winnipeg, Manitoba and the Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre/Acute Sport Concussion Clinic, Sport Medicine Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta. Adolescents (n=136, 68 from each study site, ages 13-19 years) who are diagnosed with a sport-related concussion and have ongoing symptoms for more than 10 days but less than 30 days will be recruited for study participation. Participants will be randomized via permuted block to either a moderate intensity (80%) or a low intensity (60%) aerobic exercise intervention. Both groups will be instructed to perform their respective home aerobic exercise program the beginning the day after completing their first treadmill test. Participants will be instructed to exercise at their prescribed intensity for a maximum of 30 minutes a day, 4-5 days a week. In the unlikely event in which participants feel unable to continue their home exercise program they will be asked to postpone the exercise until the next day. Participants will undergo diagnostic treadmill tests every two weeks, which will be used to determine increases in exercise tolerance and serve as a parameter of physiological recovery. The treadmill tests will also be used to set a new threshold heart rate for a person to continue to exercise at for the following two weeks or until receiving medical clearance to initiate the return to play protocol. The treadmill test is made to represent the most similar form of exercise to mimic an adolescent's respective sport.

Participants will also be asked to fill out the SCAT5 symptom scores before and after treadmill testing along with the PedsQl questionnaire. Self-reported physical and cognitive activity will be tracked with daily exercise logs, these will be used in conjunction with Actigraph accelerometers and heart rate monitors which will serve as objective tools to track the quantification of physical activity.

Data safety and monitoring: The study team at the University of Manitoba have performed over 200 treadmill tests in a pediatric concussed population with no challenges regarding safety or tolerability. The study staff will be qualified to perform exercise stress tests in a safe manner based on standards of practice imposed by the University of Calgary and Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. All study practices will be conducted under the supervision of a physician and exercise physiologist who are trained at a minimum level of cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) level C and trained to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). All study personnel will know the location and how to use the on-site AED's. Monthly teleconferences will be held between the research team at the University of Manitoba and University of Calgary regarding, safety, logistics and proper manners in which to conduct exercise tests. Between both sites we will establish a data safety and monitoring committee to ensure the safety of all patients. This independent group of experts will monitor patient safety and treatment efficacy during the ongoing RCT and report their findings to the primary investigators. The committee's role will be to periodically review and evaluate the data collected thus far for any concerns related to patient safety or study conduct. If needed, they will also provide recommendations about the continuation, modification, or termination of the RCT.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 13-19 years
2. Physician diagnosed sports-related concussion, defined according to the 5th International Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport (McCrory et al., 2017) as an injury caused by transmission of biomechanical forces to the brain leading to clinical symptoms affecting multiple domains of physical, cognitive, sleep, and neurobehavioral functioning (McCrory et al., 2017);
3. persistent symptoms at 10-30 days post-concussion;
4. a post-concussion symptom scale score greater than 5 for males and 8 for females (these are above the typically reported values for non-concussed athletes);
5. self reported difficulties with exertion and/or a graded aerobic treadmill test demonstrating isolated Physiological Post Concussion Disorder;
6. participant and parent/guardian informed consent;
7. Participant must be able to reach a heart rate greater than 100 but less than 210 bpm, during and throughout the onset of exercise (to ensure their sub-symptom threshold is still above resting norms);
8. Voluntary consent to wear an Actigraph (wGT3X-BT) accelerometer monitor for a minimum of 2 weeks and the provided Polar HR monitor during daily exercise.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. clinical evidence of vestibulo-ocular dysfunction (Ellis, et al., 2015; 2017);
2. clinical evidence of cervical spine soft tissue injury (Schneider et al., 2014);
3. past medical history of International Classification of Diseases-3 beta version migraine headaches;
4. undergoing active medical treatment for a psychiatric disorder (e.g. on medication for depression);
5. contraindication to exercise testing (traumatic abnormality on neuroimaging studies, co-existing cardiac, respiratory or orthopedic contraindication to exercise testing, pregnancy);
6. exercise intolerance reached before 100 bpm, or after 210 bpm (age predicted maximum heart rate) on graded exercise test;
7. subjects refusal to wear Actigraph and Polar HR monitor;
8. subjects resting HR above 99bpm or blood pressure greater than 144/94.