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Impact of a Paced Breathing Exercise Intervention on Autonomic Nervous System Function After Pediatric Concussion

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Concussion, Mild
Interventions
Behavioral: Breathing exercises
Registration Number
NCT06559865
Lead Sponsor
McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Brief Summary

The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to assess the feasibility of administering a paced breathing exercise intervention program to children and adolescents in the sub-acute period after concussion, and to document the autonomic function, and symptom severity (post-concussion symptoms, anxiety, sleep) before and after administration of the intervention.

Participants will:

will be instructed to perform a daily 10-minutes daily paced breathing home-exercise program and to document the daily exercises performed within a performance log, or receive usual care from a concussion follow-up program.

A weekly phone meeting will be performed with the participants, to review exercise, providing, specific instructions, and making any necessary adjustments.

All participants (intervention and control group) will undergo a second assessment after four weeks following completion of the intervention program. During the second assessment information regarding the intervention feasibility, time to return to school, return to sport, and clear from medication will be collected as well.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  • aged 9-18 years
  • seven days-3 months post-concussion,
  • at least one post-concussion symptom in the Post-concussion Symptom Inventory (PSCI) that is relevant to ANS dysfunction (e.g. dizziness, nausea, fatigue, confusion, anxiety or sleep disturbances).
Exclusion Criteria
  • known heart disease,
  • previous neurological problems other than concussion

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Breathing exercisesBreathing exercisesIn addition to the standard rehabilitation care in the concussion clinic, the intervention group will have a daily 10-minutes paced breathing home-exercise program. The paced breathing exercise including inhale for 4-second and exhale for 6-seconds, for a total of 6 breaths per minute.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Feasibility-days of practice4 weeks

number of days children in the experimental group will engage in performing their breathing exercises

Feasibility-daily duration of practice4 weeks

number of minutes children in the experimental group will engage in performing their breathing exercises

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Autonomic nervous system function-Heart rateinitial and 4 week evaluation

heart rate during autonomous nervous system testing

Autonomic nervous system function-Heart rate variabilityinitial and 4 week evaluation

heart rate variability during autonomous nervous system testing

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

McGill University Health Center

🇨🇦

Montréal, Quebec, Canada

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