Targeted interventions and their effect on recovery in children, adolescents and adults who have sustained a sport-related concussion: a systematic review.

Objectives: We evaluated interventions to facilitate recovery in children, adolescents and adults with a sport-related concussion (SRC).

Design: Systematic review including risk of bias (modified Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network tool).

Data Sources: MEDLINE(R) and Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Embase, APA PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, SPORTDiscus and Scopus searched until March 2022.

A Cross-Cultural Examination of Parental Knowledge of Concussion in Three Countries.

The aim of the present study was to examine and compare knowledge regarding concussion among parents of youth soccer players, ages 5-17, from the United States, Israel, and Sicily. Results revealed parents from the United States were more knowledgeable than Israeli and Sicilian parents and were more likely to have a previous history of concussion in their children, themselves, and their social contacts. The success of concussion education, programming, and legislation in the US may account for the greater knowledge of US parents and is reason to advocate for similar resources for youth athletes internationally.

A Cross-Cultural Examination of Parental Knowledge of Concussion in Sicily, Italy.

Forty parents of youth soccer players of ages 5-17 years, in Sicily, Italy completed a survey measuring knowledge of concussion symptoms and facts. Parents averaged 16 out of 23 correct responses (69.5%) on the survey, with no significant correlation between parental age and education and knowledge.

Diagnosis and Management of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Children: A Systematic Review.

Importance: In recent years, there has been an exponential increase in the research guiding pediatric mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) clinical management, in large part because of heightened concerns about the consequences of mTBI, also known as concussion, in children. The CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and Control's (NCIPC) Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC), a federal advisory committee, established the Pediatric Mild TBI Guideline workgroup to complete this systematic review summarizing the first 25 years of literature in this field of study.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review of the pediatric mTBI literature to serve as the foundation for an evidence-based guideline with clinical recommendations associated with the diagnosis and management of pediatric mTBI.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline on the Diagnosis and Management of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Among Children.

Importance: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), or concussion, in children is a rapidly growing public health concern because epidemiologic data indicate a marked increase in the number of emergency department visits for mTBI over the past decade. However, no evidence-based clinical guidelines have been developed to date for diagnosing and managing pediatric mTBI in the United States.

Objective: To provide a guideline based on a previous systematic review of the literature to obtain and assess evidence toward developing clinical recommendations for health care professionals related to the diagnosis, prognosis, and management/treatment of pediatric mTBI.

Gender Differences in Symptom Reporting on Baseline Sport Concussion Testing Across the Youth Age Span.

Background: Little is known regarding gender differences in concussion symptom reporting developmentally across the age span, specifically in pre-adolescent athletes. The present study asks: Do boys and girls differ in symptom reporting across the pre-adolescent to post-adolescent age span?

Method: This retrospective study utilized baseline assessments from 11,695 10-22 year-old athletes assigned to 3 independent groups: Pre-adolescent 10-12 year olds (n = 1,367; 12%), Adolescent 13-17 year olds (n = 2,974; 25%), and Late Adolescent 18-22 year olds (n = 7,354; 63%). Males represented 60% of the sample.

The Age Variable in Childhood Concussion Management: A Systematic Review.

Background: Sports-related concussion in young children has become a significant international public health issue. This paper reviews the research literature in an effort to shed light on the question, "At what age should young children be managed differently than adults or older adolescents?"

Method: A systematic review, registered with PROSPERO and using PRISMA guidelines, was conducted rendering 37 sports concussion original research studies that examined age as a variable (5-18 years), and which met specific inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Findings: There are no defined, evidence-based age groups for childhood concussion to substantiate differential management across the childhood and adolescent age span.

Increased Symptom Reporting in Young Athletes Based on History of Previous Concussions.

Research documents increased symptoms in adolescents with a history of two or more concussions. This study examined baseline evaluations of 2,526 younger athletes, ages 10 to 14. Between-groups analyses examined Post Concussion Symptom Scale symptoms by concussion history group (None, One, Two+) and clusters of Physical, Cognitive, Emotional, and Sleep symptoms.

What is the difference in concussion management in children as compared with adults? A systematic review.

Aim: To evaluate the evidence regarding the management of sport-related concussion (SRC) in children and adolescents. The eight subquestions included the effects of age on symptoms and outcome, normal and prolonged duration, the role of computerised neuropsychological tests (CNTs), the role of rest, and strategies for return to school and return to sport (RTSp).

Design: Systematic review.

One year test-retest reliability of neurocognitive baseline scores in 10- to 12-year olds.

How often youth athletes 10-12 years of age should undergo neurocognitive baseline testing remains an unanswered question. We sought to examine the test-retest reliability of annual ImPACT data in a sample of middle school athletes. Participants were 30 youth athletes, ages 10-12 years (Mean = 11.

Examining prescribed rest as treatment for adolescents who are slow to recover from concussion.

Objective: Rest is a widely recommended treatment for concussion, but its utility is unclear following the acute stage of recovery. This study examined the effects of 1-week of prescribed rest in concussed adolescent athletes.

Method: Participants were 13 adolescent athletes with persistent symptoms following a concussion.

Utility of repeated assessment after invalid baseline neurocognitive test performance.

Context: Although the prevalence of invalid baseline neurocognitive testing has been documented, and repeated administration after obtaining invalid results is recommended, no empirical data are available on the utility of repeated assessment after obtaining invalid baseline results.

Objective: To document the utility of readministering neurocognitive testing after an invalid baseline test.

Design: Case series.

Age and test setting affect the prevalence of invalid baseline scores on neurocognitive tests.

Background: Prevalence rates of invalid baseline scores on computerized neurocognitive assessments for high school, collegiate, and professional athletes have been published in the literature. At present, there is limited research on the prevalence of invalid baseline scores in pre-high school athletes.

Hypothesis: Pre-high school athletes assessed with baseline neurocognitive tests would show higher prevalence rates of invalidity than older youth athletes, and those athletes, regardless of age, who were tested in a large group setting would show a higher prevalence rate of invalidity than athletes tested in a small group setting.

The importance of proper administration and interpretation of neuropsychological baseline and postconcussion computerized testing.

Media coverage, litigation, and new legislation have resulted in a heightened awareness of the prevalence of sports concussion in both adult and youth athletes. Baseline and postconcussion testing is now commonly used for the assessment and management of sports-related concussion in schools and in youth sports leagues. With increased use of computerized neurocognitive sports concussion testing, there is a need for standards for proper administration and interpretation.

Alzheimer's disease clinical and research update for health care practitioners.

Of the approximately 6.8 million Americans who have been diagnosed with dementia, over 5 million have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Due to the rise in the aging population, these figures are expected to double by 2050.

A Case for Mental and Physical Rest in Youth Sports Concussion: It's Never too Late.

Over the past decade, there has been a considerable increase in research on, and media attention to, sports-related concussion. However, despite accurate diagnosis, effective treatment and management of sports-related concussion have remained a challenge. There are approximately 1.

Prevalence of invalid computerized baseline neurocognitive test results in high school and collegiate athletes.

Context: Limited data are available regarding the prevalence and nature of invalid computerized baseline neurocognitive test data.

Objective: To identify the prevalence of invalid baselines on the desktop and online versions of ImPACT and to document the utility of correcting for left-right (L-R) confusion on the desktop version of ImPACT.

Design: Cross-sectional study of independent samples of high school (HS) and collegiate athletes who completed the desktop or online versions of ImPACT.

Efficacy of immediate and delayed cognitive and physical rest for treatment of sports-related concussion.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of cognitive and physical rest for the treatment of concussion.

Study Design: High school and collegiate athletes (N = 49) underwent post-concussion evaluations between April 2010 and September 2011 and were prescribed at least 1 week of cognitive and physical rest. Participants were assigned to groups on the basis of the time elapsed between sustaining a concussion and the onset of rest (1-7 days, 8-30 days, 31+ days).

Group versus individual administration affects baseline neurocognitive test performance.

Background: Computer-based tests are widely used for the purpose of documenting baseline neurocognitive function, and athletes are often tested in groups. At present, there is limited research on the effects of administering these tests in a group versus individual setting.

Hypothesis: Athletes assessed with neurocognitive tests in groups would show decreased performance compared with those assessed individually.

Current issues in pediatric sports concussion.

This article reviews current issues in the following areas of pediatric sports-related concussion: incidence of concussion, potential long-term effects, return to play, and the emergence of legislation regarding concussion education and management programs. Incidence of concussion is presented in context of emergency room visits, as well as under-reporting of concussions. The literature on history of concussion is reviewed, for high school, collegiate, and professional athletes, with respect to potential long-term effects of cerebral concussion.

Early indicators of enduring symptoms in high school athletes with multiple previous concussions.

Background: Despite recent findings of cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral symptomatology in retired professional athletes with a history of multiple concussions, there is little systematic research examining these symptoms in high school athletes with a history of concussion.

Objective: To identify cognitive, emotional, and physical symptoms at baseline in nonconcussed high school athletes based on concussion history.

Methods: A multicenter sample of 616 high school athletes who completed baseline evaluations were assigned to groups based on history of concussion (none, 1, 2, or more previous concussions).

Improving outcomes of severe disorders of consciousness.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of an Advanced Care Protocol (ACP) in improving rates of clinical progression and emergence in patients with Severe Disorders of Consciousness (SDOC).

Methods: Forty-one patients with SDOC were assigned to groups: Vegetative State (VS) traumatic etiology (VS-TBI), VS non-traumatic etiology (VS-NTBI), Minimally Conscious State (MCS-TBI), MCS non-traumatic etiology (MCS-NTBI). Design was a within-subjects retrospective case series measuring pre-post ACP intervention data.

Relationship between subjective test feedback provided by high-school athletes during computer-based assessment of baseline cognitive functioning and self-reported symptoms.

Subjective feedback about distractions or problems encountered during computerized assessment was provided by 538 out of a pool of 1659 high-school athletes who completed baseline testing using ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing). Three types of feedback were included: (a) environmental, (b) computer-based (mechanical), and (c) instruction-based (associated with difficulty understanding test instructions). One-way analyses of variance were conducted and revealed relationships between greater symptom reporting and any type of feedback, environmental feedback, and instruction-based feedback.

The new neuroscience frontier: promoting neuroplasticity and brain repair in traumatic brain injury.

Increased awareness of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the military, a persistent call for evidence-based treatment, and recent government funding have revealed new research opportunities in neuroscience. This paper describes a relatively new frontier for research: that of the facilitation or enhancement of neuroplasticity and brain repair in TBI using novel treatment protocols. Such protocols, algorithmically introduced, may be tailored to the individual through the matching of neuromarkers with specific interventions.