View clinical trials related to Concussion.
Filter by:The waveform assessment of an athlete's speech production has a high probability of showing abnormalities after brain injury (concussions) which could be used not only for diagnosis of the concussion, but for recovery of the brain. The aim of this study is to investigate this possibility using the Cobweb automated application system for acoustic processing.
Sports-related concussions are common in adolescent-athletes. Prolonged recovery after concussion or post-concussion syndrome (PCS) is a public health problem. This project will determine the effectiveness of an aerobic exercise program for management of PCS and it will evaluate the influence of exercise on biologic correlates of PCS.
To test the safety and feasibility of a new treatment for adolescents who are slow to recover from a sport-related concussion, the investigators are conducting a randomised controlled trial comparing treatment as usual with an active rehabilitation program that involves sub-symptom threshold cardiac exertion, sport-specific coordination activities, and positive visualisation techniques.
This study evaluated Brain 101: The Concussion Play book, an intervention that provides education and resources on concussion management for high schools. The study hypotheses were that athletes and parents who viewed the Brain 101 program would demonstrate increased knowledge and self efficacy in concussion management, and that use of the intervention would positively affect school concussion management practices.
The purpose is to use Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging (DKI), Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and resting state functional MRI to examine tissue damage in the brains of people who have had a concussion, both acute and 3 months after the accident. A secondary purpose is to examine whether the results of the scans are associated with physical, cognitive and emotional problems after concussion. It is hypothesized that there will be a change in the diffusion signal measured with DKI in the thalamus (THA) and with DTI in the corpus callosum (CC), in the acute stage and at follow-up of the mTBI subjects compared with the healthy controls. Secondary it is expected that there will be changes in the diffusion signal measured with DKI and DTI in other WM and GM area in both the acute stage and at follow up with mTBI subjects compared with healthy controls. Also rs-fMRI markers are secondary expected to differ in the two groups. Moreover secondarily the MRI markers are tested for correlation with the severity of PCS acutely and at follow up after mTBI.
In recent years, media attention has focused on the long-term sequelae of repeated concussive episodes in professional athletes. The growing understanding of the damage done by what was once considered a "ding" during a game or match, and the neurologic consequences of "playing through" or returning to play too soon has led to additional interest in and concern for pediatric athletes (18 or under) who experience sports-related concussions during game or practice play. Because it has only been in recent years that the full scope of damage done by repeated concussive episodes has come to light, very little research has been done on treatment of concussion in either adults or children. Brain injuries in children can be especially problematic, as the brain may continue to develop until the child reaches the age of 24 or older, so concussion during this time of development may be particularly damaging. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid commonly found in both fish oils and algae. DHA is known to improve development of the eyes and brain in young children. It is thought to be an effective anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, and since it occurs naturally and causes very few harmful side effects, it may be a useful compound in the treatment of pediatric concussion. This is a feasibility trial of DHA for the treatment of sports concussion in a pediatric population. The investigators' primary aim is to determine acceptability of randomization for this compound as well as rate of enrollment given our clinical population. The investigators' secondary aim is to examine preliminary outcomes. The investigators hypothesize that subjects who take 2 g of DHA daily for 3 months will see a shorter time to full recovery and return to play and a shorter time to resolve balance disturbance. These are good, albeit unvalidated, clinical indicators of concussive recovery.
PURPOSE: The long-term goal of this line of research is to develop rational, biologically based evidence for the treatment of post-concussion syndrome (PCS) in children. The objective of this application is to examine the effect of melatonin on the symptoms of PCS and its neurobiology using integrated neurodiagnostic techniques in children. OVERVIEW: PCS is a constellation of clinical symptoms including physical (i.e. headaches), cognitive (i.e. memory), and behavioral disturbances. PCS is associated with significant morbidity in the child and his/her family), and yet there are no evidence-based medical treatments available. This suggests an urgent need to develop novel treatment options to improve outcomes for children suffering from PCS. Melatonin has several relevant mechanisms of action, and neuroprotective effects. Recent research suggests that the explanations for persistent PCS symptoms may be due to alterations in neurotransmissions and neuronal circuitry, particularly involving the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Investigators have two specific aims: 1. To determine if treatment with melatonin improves PCS in children following mild traumatic brain injury. Hypothesis: treatment of mTBI children with PCS with 3mg or 10mg of oral melatonin for 28 days will result in a decrease in PCS symptoms as compared with placebo. Effects will be dose-dependent and may be independent of sleep effects. Methods: A randomized double blind, placebo controlled trial (RCT); Outcome measure is a PCS symptom questionnaire. A subsequent RCT will then be performed using the optimal melatonin dose at a second centre. 2. To understand the neurophysiological mechanisms of paediatric PCS and assess any resultant effects of treatment with melatonin. Methods: A case-controlled study within the RCT, using functional MRI and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to investigate the neurophysiological properties of paediatric mTBI before and after treatment; Treatment groups from the RCT will be compared with two control groups: i) normal controls and ii) asymptomatic mTBI children. SIGNIFICANCE: This study has the potential to 1) provide a safe and effective treatment for PCS and 2) will provide valuable information about the neurophysiological properties of the brain associated with PCS following mTBI in children and how these change with symptom resolution.
Concussions are a common injury among athletes in the United States. The annual incidence of sports and recreational related traumatic brain injuries in the United States is 1.6 to 3.8 million, and the likelihood of an athlete in a contact sport experiencing a concussion is as high as 20 percent per season. Even mild traumatic brain injury, including concussion, can cause long-term cognitive problems that affect a person's ability to perform daily activities and to return to school or work. Far more concerning is the mounting body of evidence that concussions are not just transient injuries - but have cumulative effects. It has been well established in animal models that progesterone has neuroprotective benefits. Animal studies using progesterone for acute post-injury treatment have demonstrated reduced cerebral edema, reduced neuro-inflammatory markers, decreased neuronal loss, and improved behavioral outcomes. To date, there have been no studies to assess whether or not progesterone will be effective for the treatment of concussions. This double-blind placebo controlled trial will assess the ability of 5 days of oral micronized progesterone (Prometrium®) to shorten the duration of symptoms of an athlete diagnosed with concussion. The investigators hypothesize that athletes treated with progesterone will have faster resolution of their concussive symptoms. The investigators believe this study may be the first clinical trial to show an effective treatment for concussion.
The purpose of this pilot project is to determine whether using inertial sensors placed on the waist during routine clinical balance testing (i.e. Balance Error Scoring System) (BESS), will be a more immediate, objective, reliable and sensitive way to measure and quantify balance deficits in individuals with mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). The investigators are also trying to observe if the sensors can be used to detect balance recovery after a mTBI. The investigators hypothesis is that collegiate atheltes with mTBI injury will have different recovery periods between their cognitive testing(IMPACT) and their balance measures.
Today's hospitals need innovative solutions to help patients transition from our care to self-management at home. The vast majority of the patients seen in Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital and associated clinics leave our care with persistent and life-altering challenges - behavioral, cognitive, emotional and/or physical. The period of time immediately following discharge is an under-addressed stage within the continuum of care. The investigators are researching solutions to help patients in this transition to self-care and believe that multiplayer gaming paradigms may be a promising innovation to facilitate this transition. The investigators believe that Dr. Jane McGonigal's SuperBetter, and positive play games like it, are promising novel interventions that could make a positive difference in the ability of our patients to successfully transition to self care after discharge from therapeutic care. Specifically, the investigators will evaluate feasibility of use of such a game by mild to moderate brain injured individuals and to record pilot data to help us plan a clinical effectiveness follow up study. Our goal is to finish this study with an intervention tailored for use within the clinical continuum of care and sufficient pilot data to prepare for a randomized clinical control trial of this intervention.