Sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise improves executive function during the early stage of sport-related concussion recovery.

We examined whether persons with a sport-related concussion (SRC) derive a postexercise executive function (EF) benefit, and whether a putative benefit is related to an exercise-mediated increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF). Participants with an SRC completed the Buffalo Concussion Bike Test to determine the heart rate threshold (HRt) associated with symptom exacerbation and/or voluntary exhaustion. On a separate day, SRC participants - and healthy controls (HC group) - completed 20-min of aerobic exercise at 80% HRt while middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) was measured to estimate CBF.