Observational studyJournal of science and medicine in sport2020
Exercise in the first week following concussion among collegiate athletes: Preliminary findings.
Observational study in Journal of science and medicine in sport, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03170856 (The Effects of a Sub-maximal Exercise Program on Adolescents Who Sustained a Concussion), which is not on this map. Cited by 7 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
The Effects of a Sub-maximal Exercise Program on Adolescents Who Sustained a Concussion
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Concussion recovery time, return-to-play protocols, and mandated sit-out periods among adult amateur contact field sports: A systematic review.Irish journal of medical science · 2026Pooled it
- Active Rehabilitation Following Acute Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review.Physiotherapy Canada. Physiotherapie Canada · 2024Pooled it
- Symptom Exacerbation and Adverse Events During a Randomized Trial of Early-Stage Rehabilitation After Sport-Related Concussion: Safety Outcomes From the Active Rehab Study.Journal of athletic training · 2024Trial
- The Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Concussion Recovery: A Pilot Clinical Trial.Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS · 2021Trial
- Does Physical Fitness Prior to Traumatic Brain Injury Affect Recovery Outcomes? A Scoping Review of Human and Animal Research.Neurotrauma reports · 2025Review
- Early Exercise is Associated with Faster Concussion Recovery Among Collegiate Athletes: Findings from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2023Article
- Pediatric Sports-Related Concussion: An Approach to Care.American journal of lifestyle medicineReview
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesOur purpose was to examine the association between exercise after concussion with symptom severity, postural control, and time to symptom-resolution.
designLongitudinal cohort.
methodsCollegiate athletes (n = 72; age = 20.2 ± 1.3 years; 46% female) with concussion completed a symptom questionnaire at initial (0.6 ± 0.8 days post-injury) and follow-up (2.9 ± 1.4 days post-injury) evaluations, and a postural control assessment at follow-up. Participants were grouped into those who exercised in between the time of injury and the follow-up evaluation and those who did not. Decisions regarding post-concussion exercise were made by a sports medicine team consisting of a single team physician and athletic trainers.
resultsThirteen athletes were not included in the current study, resulting in an 85% response rate. Thirteen of the athletes who completed the study exercised between evaluations (18%). There was no symptom resolution time difference between groups (median = 13 [IQR = 7-18] days vs. 13 [7-23] days; p = 0.83). Symptom ratings were similar between groups at the acute post-injury assessment (median PCSS = 18.5 [7.5-26] vs. 17 [14-40]; p = 0.21), but a main effect of group after adjusting for time from injury to assessment indicated the exercise group reported lower symptom severity than the no exercise group across both assessments (p = 0.044). The dual-task gait speed of the exercise group was higher than the no exercise group (0.90 ± 0.15 vs. 0.78 ± 0.16 m/s; p = 0.02).
conclusionsAthletes who were recommended aerobic exercise after concussion did not have worse outcomes than those who were not. Exercise within the first week after concussion does not appear to be associated with detrimental clinical outcomes.
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Registered trials
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