Evaluating Post-concussion Clinical Management of University-Aged Performing Artists: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Contemporary concussion literature has yet to establish appropriate clinical management guidelines to address the unique needs of performing arts populations, especially at the collegiate level. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to collate current evidence regarding post-concussion return to performance management among university-aged performing artists to generate broad clinical implications.

Methods: The research team was comprised of two faculty members in the performing arts, one concussion researcher, and athletic trainer, two university librarians, and one physical therapy graduate student with expertise in post-concussion management among performing arts patients.

Factors Influencing Time to Return to Learn Among NCAA Student-Athletes Enrolled in the Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Study.

Purpose: The aim was to describe the demographic and post-injury factors that influence time to return to learn (RTL) among student-athletes enrolled in the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium.

Methods: A total of 47,860 student-athletes enrolled in the National Collegiate Athletic Association-Department of Defense (NCAA-DoD) CARE Consortium study from 2014 to 2020, with 1485 sport-related concussions (SRCs) analyzed in the present dataset. Demographic and post-injury characteristics were calculated using descriptive statistics, followed by Kaplan-Meier estimates to examine median time to return to normal academic performance (i.

Sex Differences in Recovery Trajectories of Assessments for Sport-Related Concussion Among NCAA Athletes: A CARE Consortium Study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine sex differences in recovery trajectories of assessments for sport-related concussion using Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium data.

Methods: National Collegiate Athletic Association athletes (N = 906; 61% female) from sex-comparable sports completed a pre-season baseline assessment and post-sport-related concussion assessments within 6 h of injury, 24-48 h, when they initiated their return to play progression, when they were cleared for unrestricted return to play, and 6 months post-injury. Assessments included the Standardized Assessment of Concussion, Balance Error Scoring System, Brief Symptom Inventory-18, Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT), Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-3 symptom evaluation, Clinical Reaction Time, King-Devick test, Vestibular Ocular Motor Screen, 12-item Short-Form Health Survey, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale.

Initial Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Characteristics and Recovery Patterns Among Females Across the United States Military Service Academies: A Report from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium.

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has been described in the United States (US) military service academy cadet population, but female-specific characteristics and recovery outcomes are poorly characterized despite sex being a confounder. Our objective was to describe female cadets' initial characteristics, assessment performance, and return-to-activity outcomes post-mTBI. Female cadets (n = 472) from the four US military service academies who experienced a mTBI completed standardized mTBI assessments from pre-injury to acute initial injury and unrestricted return-to-duty (uRTD).

Intersection of Race and Socioeconomic Status on Concussion Recovery among NCAA Student-Athletes: A CARE Consortium Study.

Purpose: The objectives of this study are to 1) describe collegiate student-athlete (SA) race and household income and 2) evaluate time to normal academic performance (i.e., return to learn (RTL)), initiation of the return to play (iRTP) protocol, RTP protocol duration, and time to unrestricted RTP (URTP) after sustaining sport-related concussion (SRC).

Premorbid Risk Factors and Acute Injury Characteristics of Sport-Related Concussion Across the National Collegiate Athletic Association: Findings from the Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium.

Background: Previous sport-related concussion research highlights post-injury characteristics that influence recovery trajectories; however, there is limited information regarding premorbid factors that affect sport-related concussion risk.

Objective: We aimed to (a) compare premorbid demographic factors among a large cohort of collegiate student athletes who did or did not sustain a sport-related concussion and (b) assess differences in acute injury characteristics based on biological sex and contact level.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study of university student athletes from 22 sports enrolled in the Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium study from 2014 to 2021 (n = 1804 student athletes with sport-related concussions; n = 21,702 student athletes without sport-related concussions).

Considerations for Implementing the Post-Concussion Collegiate Return-to-Learn Protocol in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Power 5 Conferences.

Objective: Although concussions affect millions of young adults annually, researchers have yet to assess factors that may affect future implementation of post-concussion academic supports within higher education. Therefore, we sought to evaluate preimplementation outcomes of the acceptability, feasibility, appropriateness, and readiness for change of the Post-Concussion Collegiate Return-to-Learn (RTL) Protocol among university stakeholders.

Setting: An online survey.

Recommendations for Medical Discharge Documentation and Academic Supports for University Students Recovering From Concussion.

Objective: This study sought to (1) collate the experiences of university students with concussion history and academic stakeholders through interviews and (2) develop concussion management recommendations for institutions of higher learning using a multidisciplinary Delphi procedure.

Setting: Remote semistructured interviews and online surveys.

Participants: The first aim of this study included undergraduate university students with concussion history who did not participate in varsity athletics ( n = 21; 57.

Evaluating Adult Decision-Making Modifiers in Support of Youth Contact-Sport Participation.

Context: Nearly 44 million youth participate in organized youth sports programs in the United States each year. However, approximately 25% of parents have considered removing their children from sports due to the fear of concussion.

Objective: To determine which adult decision-making modifiers (eg, gender, educational attainment, career type) influenced support for youth contact-sports participation.

Persistent alterations of cortical hemodynamic response in asymptomatic concussed patients.

Aim: The underlying neurophysiological effects of concussion often result in attenuated cognitive and cortical function. To understand the relation between cognition and brain injury, we investigated the effects of concussion on attentional networks using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Materials & Methods: Healthy controls and concussed patients, tested within 72 h from injury (T1) and after symptoms resolved (T2) completed a computerized attention task during fNIRS imaging.

Long-Term Influence of Concussion on Cardio-Autonomic Function in Adolescent Hockey Players.

Context: Concussion may negatively influence cardiovascular function and the autonomic nervous system, defined by alteration in heart rate variability (HRV). Differences in HRV most commonly emerge during a physical challenge, such as the final steps of the return-to-sport progression.

Objective: To assess the effect of concussion history on aspects of cardio-autonomic function during recovery from a bout of submaximal exercise in adolescent male hockey athletes.

Evaluation of Musculoskeletal Re-Injury Occurrence in Previously Concussed National Football League Athletes.

Introduction: Increased risk of musculoskeletal (MSK) injury post-concussion has been reported in collegiate athletes, yet it is unknown if professional football athletes are at the same risk of secondary injury. The objective of this study was to determine if the risk of MSK injury in National Football League (NFL) athletes increases after concussion.

Methods: NFL injury reports from 2013 to 2017 were collected from public websites.

Brain Metabolism Monitoring through CCO Measurements Using All-Fiber-Integrated Super-Continuum Source.

For monitoring of concussion, brain function, organ condition and other medical applications, what is needed is a non-invasive method of monitoring tissue metabolism. MRI-based functional imaging technology detects changes in blood oxygenation, a correlate of neural activity, and thus may offer a prediction of prognosis in cases of concussion and other cerebral traumas. Yet, potential relationships between perturbations to cerebral metabolism and patient outcomes cannot be effectively exploited clinically because we lack a practical, low-cost, non-invasive means to monitor cerebral oxygenation and metabolism in the emergency department, operating room, or medical facilities.