Trial reportPhysical therapy2026
Effects of sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise on persistent postconcussion symptom burden and exercise intolerance: a randomized controlled trial.
Trial report in Physical therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- The impact of persistent post-concussion symptoms and exercise intolerance on patient-specific functioning after mild traumatic brain injury: a biopsychosocial perspective.Journal of rehabilitation medicine · 2026Trial
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
importancePersistent postconcussion symptoms (PCS) following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are common and are often associated with exercise intolerance. The effects of aerobic exercise on PCS in adolescent athletes have been promising. However, randomized controlled trials targeting persistent PCS in the adult population are needed.
objectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise (SSTAE) on symptom burden and exercise intolerance in adults with persistent PCS.
designThis was a randomized (1:1) controlled single-blind, parallel-group trial with follow-up at 12 weeks and 6 months.
settingThe setting was a TBI outpatient clinic at Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
participantsThe participants were 81 adults who were 18 to 59 years old and had PCS and exercise intolerance 3 to 24 months after mTBI.
interventionsThe interventions were treatment-as-usual plus SSTAE versus treatment-as-usual including only general exercise information and advice. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was symptom burden, measured with the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire. The secondary outcome was exercise intolerance, measured as the symptom threshold and minutes to stop on the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test. Tertiary outcomes were measurements of health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and level of physical activity.
resultsNo between-group differences were observed in the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire at 12 weeks or 6 months. sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise significantly improved the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test symptom threshold at 12 weeks, with effects sustained at 6 months. Additionally, the SSTAE group was superior to the control group in minutes to stop at 12 weeks but not at 6 months. No adverse events occurred. No statistically significant treatment effects were observed for the tertiary outcomes.
conclusionsThe added benefit of SSTAE to treatment-as-usual did not lead to greater reduction in symptom burden compared to the control group. However, SSTAE significantly improved exercise intolerance and was safe and well tolerated. Both groups improved over time in symptom burden, health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety, and fatigue. RELEVANCE: Symptom restricted aerobic exercise intervention, provided by physical therapist, improves exercise intolerance in patients with persistent postconcussion symptoms after mTBI.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.