Neck Strengthening Program for the Prevention or Mitigation of Sports Concussion

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Study looks to determine effectiveness of neck strengthening to reduce the incident, duration, and severity of sports related concussion in student athletes.

Detailed Description
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After recruitment, subjects will have neck strength measured as baseline in addition to doing SCAT5 for baseline and eye tracking, funding pending, in order to compare later assessment for concussion. Throughout study, subject will perform basic, unweighted and weighted neck strengthening exercises twice a week. Periodic re evaluations of neck strength will be performed in order to determine progress. Any time a subject incurs a sports related concussion, a SCAT5 assessment, and eye tracking funding pending, will be done and compared to baseline to measure severity of injury. Weekly follow ups will be done to assess duration of concussion. All measurements, assessments, and exercises are non-invasive and provide minimal risk to subjects.

Official Title
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Effectiveness of a Neck Strengthening Program for the Prevention or Mitigation of Sports Concussion Injuries in Student Athletes

Conditions
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Concussion, Brain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Neck strengthening exercise to prevent concussion


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Involved in programmatic athletic activities with an ongoing duration of at least 4 weeks. Written informed consent obtained by the subject or subject's legal guardian. Written assent from subjects ages 8 years old and above Subject is between the ages of 5 and 22 years, male or female. Subjects from all racial and ethnic origins will have an opportunity to participate. Exclusion Criteria: - Corrected vision less than 20/500.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 12 Years
Maximum Age: 22 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Exercise arm<br>This arm will perform twice weekly neck strengthening exercises. | Other: Neck strengthening exercise to prevent concussion<br>* Neck strengthening exercise to prevent concussion in student athletes.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Effect of increase in neck strength in reducing risk of concussion | Neck strength, as measured by a dynamometer, will be assessed and compared to baseline. Magnitude in strength will be analyzed in relation to incidence, severity, and duration of concussion. | One year | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Effect of baseline neck strength on risk of concussion | Risk of concussion will be analyzed in relation to baseline strength measurements to assess overall effect of neck strength. | One year | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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concussion, football, student, athlete, sports