Rest and treatment/rehabilitation following sport-related concussion: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med 2017 Jun;51(12):930-934
Date
03/28/2017Pubmed ID
28341726DOI
10.1136/bjsports-2016-097475Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85018642193 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 227 CitationsAbstract
AIM OR OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the evidence regarding rest and active treatment/rehabilitation following sport-related concussion (SRC).
DESIGN: Systematic review.
DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE (OVID), CINAHL (EbscoHost), PsycInfo (OVID), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (OVID), SPORTDiscus (EbscoHost), EMBASE (OVID) and Proquest DissertationsandTheses Global (Proquest) were searched systematically.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Studies were included if they met the following criteria: (1) original research; (2) reported SRC as the diagnosis; and (3) evaluated the effect of rest or active treatment/rehabilitation. Review articles were excluded.
RESULTS: Twenty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria (9 regarding the effects of rest and 19 evaluating active treatment). The methodological quality of the literature was limited; only five randomised controlled trials (RCTs) met the eligibility criteria. Those RCTs included rest, cervical and vestibular rehabilitation, subsymptom threshold aerobic exercise and multifaceted collaborative care.
SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONS: A brief period (24-48 hours) of cognitive and physical rest is appropriate for most patients. Following this, patients should be encouraged to gradually increase activity. The exact amount and duration of rest are not yet well defined and require further investigation. The data support interventions including cervical and vestibular rehabilitation and multifaceted collaborative care. Closely monitored subsymptom threshold, submaximal exercise may be of benefit.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO 2016:CRD42016039570.
Author List
Schneider KJ, Leddy JJ, Guskiewicz KM, Seifert T, McCrea M, Silverberg ND, Feddermann-Demont N, Iverson GL, Hayden A, Makdissi MAuthor
Michael McCrea PhD Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Athletic InjuriesBrain Concussion
Humans
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Rest
Sports