A multi-modal approach to assessing recovery in youth athletes following concussion

J Vis Exp. 2014 Sep 25:(91):51892. doi: 10.3791/51892.

Abstract

Concussion is one of the most commonly reported injuries amongst children and youth involved in sport participation. Following a concussion, youth can experience a range of short and long term neurobehavioral symptoms (somatic, cognitive and emotional/behavioral) that can have a significant impact on one's participation in daily activities and pursuits of interest (e.g., school, sports, work, family/social life, etc.). Despite this, there remains a paucity in clinically driven research aimed specifically at exploring concussion within the youth sport population, and more specifically, multi-modal approaches to measuring recovery. This article provides an overview of a novel and multi-modal approach to measuring recovery amongst youth athletes following concussion. The presented approach involves the use of both pre-injury/baseline testing and post-injury/follow-up testing to assess performance across a wide variety of domains (post-concussion symptoms, cognition, balance, strength, agility/motor skills and resting state heart rate variability). The goal of this research is to gain a more objective and accurate understanding of recovery following concussion in youth athletes (ages 10-18 years). Findings from this research can help to inform the development and use of improved approaches to concussion management and rehabilitation specific to the youth sport community.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Athletes
  • Athletic Injuries / diagnosis*
  • Athletic Injuries / physiopathology*
  • Athletic Injuries / rehabilitation
  • Brain Concussion / diagnosis*
  • Brain Concussion / physiopathology*
  • Brain Concussion / rehabilitation
  • Child
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans