Faculty Collaboration Database

Quantifying Activity Levels After Sport-Related Concussion Using Actigraph and Mobile (mHealth) Technologies. J Athl Train 2019 Sep;54(9):929-938

Date

08/15/2019

Pubmed ID

31411898

Pubmed Central ID

PMC6795103

DOI

10.4085/1062-6050-93-18

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85072992585 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   14 Citations

Abstract

CONTEXT: Interest in identifying the effects of physical and mental activity on recovery after sport-related concussion is growing. Clinical studies of concussed athletes' activities require well-validated methods for tracking their intensity and timing.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a novel multimodal approach to monitoring activity postconcussion using mobile (mHealth) technologies.

DESIGN: Cohort study.

SETTING: Translational research unit.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 40 high school and collegiate football players were evaluated at preseason and followed longitudinally after either concussion (n = 25; age = 17.88 ± 1.74 years, height = 182.07 ± 8.08 cm, mass = 98.36 ± 21.70 kg) or selection as a nonconcussed control (n = 15; age = 18.27 ± 1.83 years, height = 180.01 ± 7.19 cm, mass = 93.83 ± 24.56 kg).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Participants wore a commercial actigraph and completed a daily mobile survey for 2 weeks. Analyses focused on comparisons between groups for actigraph-based physical activity and self-reported physical and mental activity during the follow-up period.

RESULTS: For the first 2 days postinjury, objective measures showed fewer daily steps in concussed (6663 ± 2667 steps) than in control (11 148 ± 3381 steps) athletes (P < .001), and both objective and self-reported measures indicated less moderate to vigorous physical activity in concussed (27.6 ± 32.6 min/d and 25.0 ± 43.6 min/d, respectively) than in control (57.3 ± 38.6 min/d and 67.5 ± 40.1 min/d, respectively) athletes (both P values < .05). Correlations between objective and self-reported measures of moderate to vigorous physical activity were moderate across select 1-week and 2-week averages. We observed no group differences in self-reported mental activities.

CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity after sport-related concussion varied widely across athletes but on average was reduced during the acute and early subacute postinjury periods for both objective and self-reported measures. The lack of differences in mental activities between groups may reflect limited change in mental exertion postconcussion or difficulty accurately measuring mental activities. Assessing concussed athletes' activities using actigraphy and self-reported scales may help monitor their compliance with activity recommendations and be useful in studies aimed at better understanding the effects of physical activity on concussion recovery.

Author List

Huber DL, Thomas DG, Danduran M, Meier TB, McCrea MA, Nelson LD

Authors

Michael McCrea PhD Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Timothy B. Meier PhD Associate Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Lindsay D. Nelson PhD Associate Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Danny G. Thomas MD, MPH Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Actigraphy
Adolescent
Adult
Athletic Injuries
Brain Concussion
Case-Control Studies
Cohort Studies
Exercise
Female
Football
Humans
Male
Neuropsychological Tests
Telemedicine
Young Adult