How completely are randomized controlled trials of non-pharmacological interventions following concussion reported? A systematic review

Purpose:The study aimed to examine the reporting completeness of randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of non-pharmacological interventions following concussion.Methods:We searched MEDLINE,Embase,PsycInfo,CINAHL,and Web of Science up to May 2022.Two reviewers independently screened studies and assessed reporting completeness using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication(TIDieR),Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template(CERT),and international Consensus on Therapeutic Exercise aNd Training(i-CONTENT)checklists.Additional information was sought my study authors where reporting was incomplete.Risk of bias(ROB)was assessed with the Cochrane ROB-2 Tool.RCTs examining non-pharmacological interventions following concussion.Results:We included 89 RCTs(n=53 high ROB)examining 11 different interventions for concussion:sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise,cervicovestibular therapy,physical/cognitive rest,vision therapy,education,psychotherapy,hyperbaric oxygen therapy,transcranial magnetic stimulation,blue light therapy,osteopathic manipulation,and head/neck cooling.Median scores were:TIDieR 9/12(75%;interquartile range(IQR)=5;range:5-12),CERT 17/19(89%;IQR=2;range:10-19),and i-CONTENT 6/7(86%;IQR=1;range:5-7).Percentage of studies completely reporting all items was TIDieR 35%(31/89),CERT 24%(5/21),and i-CONTENT 10%(2/21).Studies were more completely reported after publication of TIDieR(t_(87)=2.08;p=0.04)and CERT(t_(19)=2.72;p=0.01).Reporting completeness was not strongly associated with journal impact factor(TIDieR:rs=0.27;p=0.01;CERT:r_(s)=-0.44;p=0.06;i-CONTENT:r_(s)=-0.17;p=0.48)or ROB(TIDieR:rs=0.11;p=0.31;CERT:rs=0.04;p=0.86;i-CONTENT:rs=0.12;p=0.60).Conclusion:RCTs of non-pharmacological interventions following concussion demonstrate moderate to good reporting completeness,but are often missing key components,particularly modifications,motivational strategies,and qualified supervisor.Reporting completeness improved after TIDieR and CERT publication,but publication in highly cited journals and low ROB do not guarantee reporting completeness.

Symptom presentation and evolution in the first 48 hours after injury are associated with return to play after concussion in elite Rugby Union

Background:Return to play(RTP)in elite rugby is managed using a 6-stage graduated RTP protocol,which can result in clearance to play within 1 week of injury.We aimed to explore how symptom,cognitive,and balance presentation and evolution during concussion screens 2 h(head injury assessment(HIA2)and 48 h(HIA3)after injury were associated with time to RTP)to identify whether a more conservative graduated RTP may be appropriate.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 380 concussed rugby players from elite men’s rugby over 3 consecutive seasons.Players were classified as shorter or longer returns,depending on whether RTP occurred within 7 days(allowing them to be considered to play the match 1 week after injury)or longer than 8 days,respectively.Symptom,cognitive,and balance performance during screens was assessed relative to baseline(normal or abnormal)and to the preceding screen(improving or worsening).Associations between sub-test abnormalities and RTP time were explored using odds ratios(OR,longer vs.shorter).Median day absence was compared between players with abnormal or worsening results and those whose results were normal or improving.Results:Abnormal symptom results during screens 2 h and 48 h after concussion were associated with longer return time(HIA2:OR=2.21,95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.39-3.50;HIA3:OR=3.30,95%CI:1.89-5.75).Worsening symptom number or severity from the time of injury to 2 h and 48 h post-injury was associated with longer return(HIA2:OR=2.49,95%CI:1.36-4.58;HIA3:OR=3.34,95%CI:1.10-10.15).Median days absence was greater in players with abnormal symptom results at both HIA2 and HIA3.Cognitive and balance performance were not associated with longer return and did not affect median days absence.Conclusion:Symptom presentation and evolution within 48 h of concussion were associated with longer RTP times.This may guide a more conservative approach to RTP,while still adhering to individualized concussion management principles.

Are EPB41 and alpha-synuclein diagnostic biomarkers of sport-related concussion?Findings from the NCAA and Department of Defense CARE Consortium

Background:Current protein biomarkers are only moderately predictive at identifying individuals with mild traumatic brain injury or concussion.Therefore,more accurate diagnostic markers are needed for sport-related concussion.Methods:This was a multicenter,prospective,case-control study of athletes who provided blood samples and were diagnosed with a concussion or were a matched non-concussed control within the National Collegiate Athletic Association-Department of Defense Concussion Assessment,Research,and Education Consortium conducted between 2015 and 2019.The blood was collected within 48 h of injury to identify protein abnormalities at the acute and subacute timepoints.Athletes with concussion were divided into 6 h post-injury(0-6 h post-injury)and after 6 h postinjury(7-48 h post-injury)groups.We applied a highly multiplexed proteomic technique that used a DNA aptamers assay to target 1305proteins in plasma samples from athletes with and without sport-related concussion.Results:A total of 140 athletes with concussion(79.3%males;aged 18.71±1.10 years,mean±SD)and 21 non-concussed athletes(76.2%males;19.14±1.10 years)were included in this study.We identified 338 plasma proteins that significantly differed in abundance(319 upregulated and 19 downregulated)in concussed athletes compared to non-concussed athletes.The top 20 most differentially abundant proteins discriminated concussed athletes from non-concussed athletes with an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.954(95%confidence interval:0.922-0.986).Specifically,after 6 h of injury,the individual AUC of plasma erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1(EPB41)and alpha-synuclein(SNCA)were 0.956 and 0.875,respectively.The combination of EPB41 and SNCA provided the best AUC(1.000),which suggests this combination of candidate plasma biomarkers is the best for diagnosing concussion in athletes after 6 h of injury.Conclusion:Our data suggest that proteomic profiling may provide novel diagnostic protein markers and that a combination of EPB41 and SNCA is the most predictive biomarker of concussion after 6 h of injury.

Strategies to avoid a missed diagnosis of co-occurring concussion in post-acute patients having a spinal cord injury

Research scientists and clinicians should be aware that missed diagnoses of mild-moderate traumatic brain injuries in post-acute patients having spinal cord injuries may approach 60-74% with certain risk factors, potentially causing clinical consequences for patients, and confounding the results of clinical research studies. Factors leading to a missed diagnosis may include acute trauma-related life-threatening issues, sedation/intubation, subtle neuropathology on neuroimaging, failure to collect Glasgow Coma Scale scores or duration of posttraumatic amnesia, or lack of validity of this information, and overlap in neuro-cognitive symptoms with emotional responses to spinal cord injuries. Strategies for avoiding a missed diagnosis of mild-moderate traumatic brain injuries in patients having a spinal cord injuries are highlighted in this perspective.

Diffusion tensor tractography characteristics of axonal injury in concussion/mild traumatic brain injury

The main advantage of diffusion tensor tractography is that it allows the entire neural tract to be evaluated.In addition,configurational analysis of reconstructed neural tracts can indicate abnormalities such as tearing,narrowing,or discontinuations,which have been used to identify axonal injury of neural tracts in concussion patients.This review focuses on the characteristic features of axonal injury in concussion or mild traumatic brain injury(m TBI)patients through the use of diffusion tensor tractography.Axonal injury in concussion(m TBI)patients is characterized by their occurrence in long neural tracts and multiple injuries,and these characteristics are common in patients with diffuse axonal injury and in concussion(m TBI)patients with axonal injury.However,the discontinuation of the corticospinal tract is mostly observed in diffuse axonal injury,and partial tearing and narrowing in the subcortical white matter are frequently observed in concussion(m TBI)patients with axonal injury.This difference appears to be attributed to the observation that axonal injury in concussion(m TBI)patients is the result of weaker forces than those producing diffuse axonal injuries.In addition,regarding the fornix,in diffuse axonal injury,discontinuation of the fornical crus has been frequently reported,but in concussion(m TBI)patients,many collateral branches form in the fornix in addition to these findings in many case studies.It is presumed that the impact on the brain in TBI is relatively weaker than that in diffuse axonal injury,and that the formation of collateral branches occurs during the fornix recovery process.Although the occurrence of axonal injury in multiple areas of the brain is an important feature of diffuse axonal injury,case studies in concussion(m TBI)have shown that axonal injury occurs in multiple neural tracts.Because axonal injury lesions in m TBI patients may persist for approximately 10 years after injury onset,the characteristics of axonal injury in concussion(m TBI)patients,which are reviewed and categorized in this review,are expected to serve as useful supplementary information in the diagnosis of axonal injury in concussion(m TBI)patients.

Impaired motor control after sport-related concussion could increase risk for musculoskeletal injury:Implications for clinical management and rehabilitation

This review presents a conceptual framework and supporting evidence that links impaired motor control after sport-related concussion(SRC)to increased risk for musculoskeletal injury.Multiple studies have found that athletes who are post-SRC have higher risk for musculoskeletal injury compared to their counterparts.A small body of research suggests that impairments in motor control are associated with musculoskeletal injury risk.Motor control involves the perception and processing of sensory information and subsequent coordination of motor output within the central nervous system to perform a motor task.Motor control is inclusive of motor planning and motor learning.If sensory information is not accurately perceived or there is interference with sensory information processing and cognition,motor function will be altered,and an athlete may become vulnerable to injury during sport participation.Athletes with SRC show neuroanatomic and neurophysiological changes relevant to motor control even after meeting return to sport criteria,including a normal neurological examination,resolution of symptoms,and return to baseline function on traditional concussion testing.In conjunction,altered motor function is demonstrated after SRC in muscle activation and force production,movement patterns,balance/postural stability,and motor task performance,especially performance of a motor task paired with a cognitive task(i.e.,dual-task condition).The clinical implications of this conceptual framework include a need to intentionally address motor control impairments after SRC to mitigate musculoskeletal injury risk and to monitor motor control as the athlete progresses through the return to sport continuum.

Evaluation of diagnosis and curative criterion for concussion patients by color three-dimensional trascrani doppler

Objective In order to offer a noninvasive and objective examination method for assessing the clinical diagnosis and eurative criterion of concussion patients,the patients color three－dimensional transcranial doppler(3D－TCD)characteristic at deferent phases,parameter and clincal manifestation were studied.Method Parameter of Median Cerebral Artery(MCA),Base Artery(BA),the average peak forwand velocity of cerebral blood flow,train figure were tested by 3D－TCD within 24 hours,3－6 days and at the end of treatment,respectively.The results were compared with clinical diagnoses and curative criterion.Result Among 135 patients who had clinically diagnosed concussion,agreeable diagnoses 101 cases,basically agreeable diagnoses 12 cases,disagreeable diagnosis 22 cases(16.2％).At the end of treatment, according to clinical determination 96 cases(71.1％)were cured,39 cases(28.9％)were improved.Wave train character,figure and diagnoses parameter of cerebral spasm caused by concussion were suggested.Conclusion To be one of the diagnostic bases and curative criterion,3D－TCD technology is performable.Meanwhile,it is a new testing objective technique for assessing curative and determining prognosis.

Detailed description of Division I ice hockey concussions:Findings from the NCAA and Department of Defense CARE Consortium

Objective:Since concussion is the most common injury in ice hockey,the objective of the current study was to elucidate risk factors,specific mechanisms,and clinical presentations of concussion in men’s and women’s ice hockey.Methods:Ice hockey players from 5 institutions participating in the Concussion Assessment,Research,and Education Consortium were eligible for the current study.Participants who sustained a concussion outside of this sport were excluded.There were 332(250 males,82 females)athletes who participated in ice hockey,and 47(36 males,11 females)who sustained a concussion.Results:Previous concussion(odds ratio(OR)=2.00;95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.02‒3.91)was associated with increased incident concussion odds,while wearing a mouthguard was protective against incident concussion(OR=0.43;95%CI:0.22‒0.85).Overall,concussion mechanisms did not significantly differ between sexes.There were specific differences in how concussions presented clinically across male and female ice hockey players,however.Females(9.09%)were less likely than males(41.67%)to have a delayed symptom onset(p=0.045).Additionally,females took significantly longer to reach asymptomatic(p=0.015)and return-to-play clearance(p=0.005).Within the first 2 weeks post-concussion,86.11%of males reached asymptomatic,while only 45.50%of females reached the same phase of recovery.Most males(91.67%)were cleared for return to play within 3 weeks of their concussion,compared to less than half(45.50%)of females.Conclusion:The current study proposes possible risk factors,mechanisms,and clinical profiles to be validated in future concussions studies with larger female sample sizes.Understanding specific risk factors,concussion mechanisms,and clinical profiles of concussion in collegiate ice hockey may generate ideas for future concussion prevention or intervention studies.

Gender differences in nonlinear motor performance following concussion

Purpose:To quantify differences in nonlinear aspects of performance on a seated visual-motor tracking task between clinically asymptomatic males and females with and without a self-reported mild traumatic brain injury history.Methods:Seventy-three individuals with a self-reported concussion history(age:21.40±2.25 years,mean±SD)and 75 without completed the visual-motor tracking task(age:21.50±2.00 years).Participants pressed an index finger against a force sensor,tracing a line across a computer screen(visual-motor tracking).The produced signal's root-mean-square error(RMSE),sample entropy(SampEn,a measure of regularity),and average power(AvP)between 0 and 12 Hz were calculated.Results:Males with a history of 0 or 1 concussion had greater RMSE(worse performance)than females with 0(p<0.0001)and 1 concussion(p=0.052).Additionally,females with 2+concussions exhibited lower SampEn than females with no history(p=0.001)or a history of 1 concussion(p=0.026).Finally,females with 2+concussions had lower 8-12 Hz AvP than males with 2+concussions(p=0.031).Few differences were observed in the male participants.Conclusion:Females with a self-reported history of multiple concussions exhibited lower SampEn in the visual-motor tracking-task force output structure as compared to those with no reported history of concussion and their male counterparts.Lower SampEn and lower power between 8 and12 Hz indicated persistent impairment in visual processing and feed-forward or predictive motor control systems.

Quiet rest ameliorates biochemical metabolism in the brain in a simple concussion rabbit model Evaluation of hydrogen proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The present study analyzed changes in the biochemical metabolites N-acetyl aspartate, choline, and creatine in a simple concussion rabbit model following quiet rest, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or interference stimulation through the use of hydrogen proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy detection. Experimental findings showed that brain N-acetyl aspartate and choline peak values significantly decreased, while creatine peak values significantly increased following simple concussion. Following treatments, N-acetyl aspartate and choline peaks returned to normal levels in the quiet rest and hyperbaric oxygen therapy groups, but no changes were observed in the interference stimulation group. Results demonstrated abnormal changes in the brain biochemical metabolism environment following simple concussion. Quiet rest was shown to play an important role in restoration of biochemical metabolism following simple concussion.

Microstructural changes in memory and reticular formation neural pathway after simple concussion

Patients with concussion often present with temporary disturbance of consciousness. The microstructural and functional changes in the brain associated with concussion, as well as the relationship with transient cognitive disorders, are currently unclear. In the present study, a rabbit model of simple concussion was established. Magnetic resonance-diffusion tensor imaging results revealed that the corona radiata and midbrain exhibited significantly decreased fractional anisotropy values in the neural pathways associated with memory and the reticular formation. In addition, the apparent diffusion coefficient values were significantly increased following injury compared with those before injury. Following a 1-hour period of quiet rest, the fractional anisotropy values significantly increased, and apparent diffusion coefficient values significantly decreased, returning to normal pre-injury levels. In contrast, the fractional anisotropy values and apparent diffusion coefficient values in the corpus callosum, thalamus and hippocampus showed no statistical significant alterations following injury. These findings indicate that the neural pathways associated with memory and the reticular formation pathway exhibit reversible microstructural white matter changes when concussion occurs, and these changes are exhibited to a different extent in different regions.

Which psychosocial factors are associated with return to sport following concussion? A systematic review

Background:Psycho social factors predict recurrent inj ury and return to preinjury level of performance following orthopedic injury but are poorly understood following concussion.Current management protocols prioritize physical measures of recovery.Therefore,the objective of this study was to describe the psychosocial factors associated with return to sport(RTS) and how they are measured in athletes who sustained a concussion.Methods:MEDLINE,Embase,APA PsycINFO,CINAHL,and SPORTDiscus were searched through February 2,2021.Eligible studies included original peer-reviewed publications describing psychosocial factors associated with RTS following a diagnosed concussion.The primary outcome was scales or measures employed and/or key thematic concepts.Results:Of the 3615 studies identified,10 quantitative cohort studies(Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Level-3) representing 2032 athletes(85% male;high-school and collegiate collision/contact athletes) and 4 qualitative studies representing 66 athletes(74% male;70% American football;aged 9-28 years) were included.We identified 3 overarching themes and 10 outcome measures related to psychosocial factors associated with RTS following concussion:(a) fear(e.g,of recurrent concussion,of RTS,of losing playing status);(b) emotional factors(e.g,depression,anxiety,perceived stress,mental health,disturbance mood);and(c) contextual factors(e.g,social support,pressure,sense of identity).Conclusion:Although current medical clearance decisions prioritize physical measures of recovery,evidence suggests diverse psychosocial factors influence RTS following concussion.It remains unclear which psychosocial factors contribute to a successful RTS,including the influence of sex/gender and age.Future studies should evaluate the association of psychological readiness with physical measures of recovery at medical clearance,preinjury level of performance,and risk of recurrent concussion to support RTS clinical decision-making.

Nature-Based Therapy for People Suffering from Post-Concussion Syndrome—A Pilot Study

Background: Approximately 10% - 15% of people diagnosed with a concussion develop post-concussion syndrome (PCS), in which mental fatigue is a dominating symptom. PCS has major consequences for the individuals diagnosed, and society as a whole. Objective: The objective of the pilot study was to investigate whether a nature-based therapeutic (NBT) intervention would be suitable for ameliorating the symptoms experienced by people with PCS, especially mental fatigue. Method: Eight participants diagnosed with PCS took part in a NBT programme, which consisted of weekly two-hour sessions over the course of eight weeks. The participants’ level of mental fatigue was measured on the Mental Fatigue Scale (MFS) before and after the intervention. An analogue scale inspired by the EuroQol-visual analogue scales (EQ-VAS) was used to measure immediate self-perceived feeling of health/ well-being before and after individual sessions. A semi-structured interview was held with each participant after the intervention. The interviews and logbooks were analysed through content analysis, which entails several steps in a spiral-like process, from reading and re-reading the transcripts to forming units of meaning, which were then grouped into sub-categories and categories for further analysis. Result: The MFS showed a significant decrease in mental fatigue and large effect size. The participants’ self-assessed health/ well-being on the analogue scale showed an increase from the beginning to the end of each session. The analysis of the interviews revealed that the participants experienced the sensory stimuli and exercises in the natural environment as motivating and meaningful, even when they were challenging. Further, they found the psycho-educational aspects transferable to everyday life. Conclusion: The results support that NBT can have potential in the rehabilitation of PCS, by lowering mental fatigue and improving health and well-being. The NBT was further found to be experienced as enjoyable and motivating with good transferability to everyday life.

Concussion Practice Patterns among Speech-Language Pathologists

OBJECTIVE: To identify current SLP practice patterns in concussion care, clarify definitions of common cognitive retraining terminology, and establish areas of growth in clinical practice and research. METHOD: An online 10 question survey to collect data on assessment and practice components. Total 79 respondents from ASHA Special Interest Group 2 Neurogenic Communication Disorders website participated. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Patient education and symptom management were regular components of cognitive retraining with concussion. Smaller percentage included cognitive endurance building. Further analysis identified variation in how clinicians defined terms: patient education, symptom management, and cognitive endurance building. Discrepancies noted with diagnostic tools, with one quarter using screening tools as primary assessment. CONCLUSION: Strong knowledge base to support differential diagnosis and therapeutic plan is critical to optimize outcomes in concussion care. Consistency with terminology use can reduce the risk of confusion but also support the value of what SLPs contribute to an interdisciplinary concussion team.

An Examination of Concussion Injury Rates in Various Models of Football Helmets in NCAA Football Athletes

While newer, advanced helmet models have been designed with the intentions of decreasing concussions, very little research exists on injury rates in various football helmets at the collegiate level. The aim of this study was to examine concussion injury rates in various models of football helmets in collegiate football athletes. In addition, to compare injury rates of newer, advanced football helmets to older, traditional helmets among collegiate football athletes, a total of 209 concussions and 563,701 AEs （athlete-exposures） among 2,107 collegiate football athletes in seven helmet models were included in the analyses. Concussion injury rates revealed that the Riddell Revolution~ had the highest rate of 0.41 concussions per 1,000 AEs. The Schutt ION 4DTM helmet had the lowest rate of 0.25 concussions per 1,000 AEs. These newer helmet models did not significantly differ from one another （P = 0.74）, however, all models significantly differed from the older, traditional helmet model （P 〈 0.001）. The findings of this study suggest that concussion rates do not differ between newer and more advanced helmet models. More importantly, there are currently no helmets available to prevent concussions from occurring in football athletes.

Concussion in contact sport:A challenging area to tackle

1.The problem The term'concussion'refers to a common form of traumatic brain injury,which typically occurs after a blow or injury to the head.It has been described as a'complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain,induced by biomechanical factors',and shear forces induced by rotational acceleration are believed to be the primary mechanism of injury in concussion.~1The incidence of concussion in the UK has been shown to be

Orchard Sports Injury and Illness Classification System (OSIICS) Version 15

Background:Sports medicine(injury and illnesses)requires distinct coding systems because the International Classification of Diseases is insuf-ficient for sports medicine coding.The Orchard Sports Injury and Illness Classification System(OSIICS)is one of two sports medicine coding systems recommended by the International Olympic Committee.Regular updates of coding systems are required.Methods:For Version 15,updates for mental health conditions in athletes,sports cardiology,concussion sub-types,infectious diseases,and skin and eye conditions were considered particularly important.Results:Recommended codes were added from a recent International Olympic Committee consensus statement on mental health conditions in athletes.Two landmark sports cardiology papers were used to update a more comprehensive list of sports cardiology codes.Rugby union protocols on head injury assessment were used to create additional concussion codes.Conclusion:It is planned that OSIICS Version 15 will be translated into multiple new languages in a timely fashion to facilitate international accessibility.The large number of recently published sport-specific and discipline-specific consensus statements on athlete surveillance warrant regular updating of OSIICS.

Dynamic balance and concussion

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that up to 3.8 million concussions occur annually in the United States. Studies have shown that a history of concussion increases an athlete′s risk of sustaining a subsequent concussion. This study investigated the association between dynamic balance performance and concussion injury. METHODS Subjects were 109 elite Irish rugby players. All participants underwent a baseline Y Balance Test (YBT), with an inertial sensor. The outcome variable of interest was the diagnosis of concussion during the ensuing season, with that diagnosis made using the Head Injury Assessment Tool (HIA) in compliance with the world rugby guidelines. Recorded for each player was a self reported concussion history, playing position, age group and dynamic balance variables. RESULTS At baseline, 40% of the players reported of history of concussion, while 19.3% of the players sustained a concussion during the study season. There was no significant difference in baseline testing results between those who had a history of concussion and those who did not. Those who sustained a new concussion demonstrated significantly worse dynamic balance when reaching in the anterior direction, as compare to the nonconcussed group. A regression model revealed that, when controlling for concussion history, those with poor balance performance were at a 3.63 greater risk of sustaining a concussion, as compared with those with optimal balance performance. CONCLUSION This study of elite rugby players found an association between reduced dynamic balance performance and the risk of sustaining another concussion.

Effectiveness of hand self-shiatsu to improve sleep following sport-related concussion in young athletes: a proof-of-concept study

Objective: The prevalence of sport-related concussion(SRC) is high and results in a number of serious health consequences. One area that has received minimal research is the relationship between SRC and sleep. The literature shows that sleep deficiency is a frequent negative consequence of SRC. At the same time, sleep deficiency delays recovery from SRC and contributes added risk of symptom recurrence.A 2014 study of chronic pain patients who learned to apply the complementary and alternative medicine intervention hand self-shiatsu(HSS) had promising, sleep-promoting results that warrant further investigation with other populations. This proof-of-concept study explored the feasibility of HSS as an intervention to promote sleep onset and continuity for young adults with SRC.Methods: This study employed a prospective case-series design, where participants act as their own controls. Baseline and follow-up data included standardized self-reported assessment tools and sleep actigraphy.Results: Seven athletes, aged between 18 and 25 years, participated in the study. Although statistically significant improvement in actigraphy sleep scores between baseline and follow-up was not achieved,metrics for sleep quality and daytime fatigue showed significant improvement.Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that HSS has the potential to improve sleep and reduce daytime fatigue in young postconcussion athletes. This pilot study provides guidance to refine research protocols and lays a foundation for further, large-sample, controlled studies.

Cognitive disorder in brain concussion

This paper presented original study results concerning the prevalence and clinical characteristics of cognitive impairment associated with brain concussion. The cognitive functions of 80 consecutive patients （mean age = 37.40±1l.74years; 50 men and 30 women） admitted to the hospital with brain concussions were evaluated. Their cognitive scores were compared with 40 age- and education-matched healthy volunteers without history of cranial trauma. Cognitive impairment without dementia was found in 93% of the patients. Cognitive impairment in brain concussion was also characterized by prominent cognitive slowness （bradyphrenia）, concentration decrease, free recall insufficiency, and visual-spatial dysfunction. Age and severity of anxiety significantly influence the cognitive performance of patients.