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Cited by 20Traumatic Brain Injury ResearchLong-Term Effects of COVID-19Cognitive Functions and Memory

Neurocognitive and quality of life improvements associated with aerobic training for individuals with persistent symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury: secondary outcome analysis of a pilot randomized clinical trial

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Gladstone, Emily, Narad, Megan E., Hussain, Fadhil, Quatman-Yates, Catherine C., Hugentobler, Jason, Wade, Shari L., Gubanich, Paul J., Kurowski, Brad G.·2019·Frontiers in Neurology
DOI 10.3389/fneur.2019.01002PMC PMC6759771
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To report secondary neurocognitive and quality of life outcomes for a pilot randomized clinical trial (RCT) of aerobic training for management of prolonged symptoms after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in adolescents. SETTING: Outpatient research setting. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 years who sustained a mTBI and had between 4 and 16 weeks of persistent post concussive symptoms. DESIGN: Secondary outcome analysis of a partially masked RCT of sub-symptom exacerbation aerobic training compared with a full-body stretching program highlighting cognitive and quality of life outcomes MAIN MEASURES: The secondary outcomes assessed included neurocognitive changes in fluid and crystalized age-adjusted cognition using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) toolbox and self and parent-reported total quality of life using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. RESULTS: Twenty-two percent of eligible participants enrolled in the trial. General linear models did not reveal statistically significant differences between groups. Within group analyses using paired t-tests demonstrated improvement in age-adjusted fluid cognition (t(13)=3.39, p=0.005, Cohen’s d=0.61) and crystalized cognition (t(13)=2.63, p=0.02, Cohen’s d=0.70) within the aerobic training group but no significant improvement within the stretching group. Paired t-tests demonstrated significant improvement in both self-reported and parent-reported total quality of life measures in the aerobic training group (self-report t(13)=3.51, p=0.004, Cohen’s d=0.94; parent-report t(13)=6.5, p<0.0001, Cohen’s d=1.80) and the stretching group (self-report t(14)=4.20, p=0.0009, Cohen’s d=1.08; parent-report t(14)=4.06, p=0.0012, Cohen’s d=1.045). CONCLUSION: Quality of life improved significantly in both the aerobic exercise and stretching groups; however, this study suggests that only sub-symptom exacerbation aerobic training was potentially beneficial for neurocognitive recovery, particularly the fluid cognition subset in the NIH Toolbox. Limited sample size and variation in outcomes measures limited ability to detect between group differences. Future research should focus on developing larger studies to determine optimal timing post injury and intensity of active rehabilitation to facilitate neurocognitive recovery and improve quality of life after mTBI. Trial Registration: NCT02035579

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Cited by

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Authors
Gladstone, E., Narad, M. E., Hussain, F., Quatman-Yates, C. C., Hugentobler, J., Wade, S. L., Gubanich, P. J., & Kurowski, B. G.
Affiliations
  • MetroHealth (US)
  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (US)
  • University of Cincinnati (US)
Corresponding author
Kurowski, Brad G.
ORCID
Venue
Frontiers in Neurology
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2019-09-18
Volume
10
Pages
1002-1002
ISSN
1664-2295 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/fneur.2019.01002
PMC
PMC6759771
OpenAlex
W2971840119
Cited by
20
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 2
FWCI
0.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Frontiers in Neurology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (UL1TR000077)
  • National Institutes of Health (UL1TR001425, UL1TR000077, TR000077)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (TR000077)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (K23HD074683)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
Keywords
mild traumatic brain injury, post-concussion symptoms, aerobic exercise, adolescents, neurocognitive recovery, fluid cognition, quality of life, stretching, NIH Toolbox, PedsQL, exercise therapy, concussion rehabilitation, parent-reported outcomes, self-reported outcomes, NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery

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