The Influence of Prescribed Exercise on Pain Related Fear Following Concussion in Collegiate Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Concussion, Brain
- Sponsor
- University of Virginia
- Enrollment
- 46
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Athlete Fear Avoidance Questionnaire (AFAQ)
- Status
- Recruiting
- Last Updated
- last year
Overview
Brief Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of acute aerobic exercise at two different intensities on psychological measures, symptomology, and time to symptom free in collegiate student athletes with concussion. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does prescribed, acute aerobic exercise influence measures of pain related fear, anxiety, depression, symptoms, and recovery time?
- Does the intensity of the exercise prescription also influence the aforementioned outcomes?
Participants will be randomly assigned into either a light intensity or moderate intensity aerobic exercise (treadmill walking) group. They will initiate the exercise protocol 48 hours following their concussion diagnosis, and complete exercise sessions 5 times per week until they report symptom-free. Researchers will compare the light intensity group to the moderate intensity group to see if intensity of exercise influences psychological measures of pain related fear, anxiety, depression, symptomology, and time to symptom-free.
Investigators
Jacob Resch
Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology
University of Virginia
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Collegiate athlete (varsity)
- •Symptomatic at time of exercise prescription
Exclusion Criteria
- •If advanced neuroimaging was performed, any subject with a structural abnormality will be excluded
- •History of traumatic brain injury requiring hospitalization
- •Not cleared to play their sport by a physician due to some other injury such as an ankle sprain or muscle strain
- •If individual is diagnosed with any condition that is a contraindication to aerobic exercise. Please note that all participants will have already been cleared to participate in their respective collegiate sport after extensive pre-participation physical examinations upon entering the university.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Athlete Fear Avoidance Questionnaire (AFAQ)
Time Frame: 48 hours after concussion diagnosis and then every other day until participant reports symptom free which takes, on median, 6 days with a range of 0-203 days at the research site.
A measure of fear avoidance specifically designed for injured athletes. Minimum score of 10, Maximum score of 50. Higher scores indicate higher levels of fear-avoidance.
Revised Head Injury Scale (HIS-r)
Time Frame: 48 hours after concussion diagnosis and then every single day until participant reports symptom free which takes, on median, 6 days with a range of 0-203 days at the research site.
A measure of 22 concussion related symptoms and their associated duration and severity over the previous 24 hours. Minimum duration of 1 and a maximum duration of 132. Minimum severity of 0 and maximum severity of 132. Higher levels of symptom count, duration, and severity indicate worse symptomology.
Days until symptom-free
Time Frame: Depends on individual injury characteristics but has a median of 6 days, range of 0-203 days at the research site.
The time it takes, in days, for a participant to report symptom free.
The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia-17 (TSK-17)
Time Frame: 48 hours after concussion diagnosis and then every other day until participant reports symptom free which takes, on median, 6 days with a range of 0-203 days at the research site.
A measure of fear beliefs associated with exercise, movement, and re-injury. Minimum score of 17, Maximum 68. Higher scores indicate worse kinesiophobia.
Secondary Outcomes
- Generalized Anxiety Index-7 (GAD-7)(48 hours after concussion diagnosis and then every other day until participant reports symptom free which takes, on median, 6 days with a range of 0-203 days at the research site.)
- Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)(48 hours after concussion diagnosis and then every other day until participant reports symptom free which takes, on median, 6 days with a range of 0-203 days at the research site.)
- Step count(Step count recording will begin 48 hours after concussion diagnosis and then every single day until participant reports symptom free which takes, on median, 6 days with a range of 0-203 days at the research site.)
- Days until return to sport(Depends on individual injury characteristics but will be, on median, 5 days after reporting symptom free which takes 6 days on median at the research site.)