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"Background: Sport-related concussions continue to impact more than one million US children under 18 years of age annually. Amongst these injuries, long-term cognitive and behavioral consequences are evident in approximately one-third of emerging adults (ages 18 – 29) which may be positively influenced by the mental and brain health benefits associated with acute exercise. As such, it is possible that acute exercise may positively impact these potentially lingering neuroelectric consequences impacting cognitive function in previously concussed emerging adults. Purpose: This study sought to examine (Aim 1) executive function and EEG measures in those with and without a history of concussion at baseline as a function of concussion measured on day 1, and (Aim 2) measure the impact of a single, acute bout of exercise on executive function and EEG outcomes in those with compared to without a history of concussion. Methods: Young adults who have or who are currently participating in noncollegiate competitive sport (n = 25; 18 – 24 years old) visited the lab on two separate days exactly one week apart for approximately two hours to complete a rest and exercise condition that was counterbalanced between participants. Both prior to and following the rest and exercise conditions, participants completed the flanker task with continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) data recorded. Both the cognitive and EEG data were collected to evaluate differences in executive function processes including inhibitory control and the P3 event-related potential (ERP) component (associated with the allocation of attentional resources and the organization and evaluation of stimuli). Results: Results for Aim 1 revealed no differences in attention or inhibition (executive function or P3 outcomes) at baseline between the concussed and non concussed groups. Results for Aim 2 revealed no changes in executive function or P3 outcomes following acute exercise in those with a history of concussion compared to those without. Conclusion: Current findings suggest emerging adults with a history of sports-related concussions do not experience significant changes to inhibitory control, attentional resources, or P3 components on day 1 or prior to and following an acute bout of exercise. Therefore, regardless of concussion status, acute exercise can continue to be used to improve overall health without negatively impacting these aspects of executive function. Future research should examine how individual differences in exercise, sedentary time, and age of acquiring a concussion may impact this relationship between exercise, cognition, and concussions."--Abstract from author supplied metadata.

Author's abstract: Context: Lack of concussion reporting remains a problem as high school athletes report about fifty percent of all concussions. Purpose: The study sought to determine if there is a relationship between athletic identity and athlete’s intention to report concussions. Methods: The sample consisted of 78 high school athletes (m age = 16.19 + 0.88, 56 males, 22 females). Participants were administered the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) and Intention to Report Subscale which served as dependent measures. The presence of AI was determined by comparing AIMS score to previous norms. A linear regression was used to determine the relationship between AI and intention to report. Regression analysis examined the influence of demographic variables on AI and intention to report. Finally, multiple one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted to examine differences between groups for AI and intention to report. All statistical analyses were conducted utilizing SPSS 25.0. Significance levels were set at an a priori 0.05. Results: Athletes in the study had an athletic identity as demonstrated by similar AIMS scores to previous norms. AI was not related to intention to report (p = 0.740). Age significantly influenced reporting intention (p = 0.20), as athletes get older their intention to report decreased. Athletes with a previous history of a “ding/bellringer” had significantly lower intention (p = 0.048), but previous history of concussion did not affect reporting intention to report (p = 0.118). Additionally, previous concussion education did not influence intention (p =0.612). Discussion: Adolescents do have an established AI as compared to other athletes. This study sought to find out if there was a relationship between AI and intention. No relationship existed between AI and intention; however, clinicians should not discount the influence identity may play in concussion reporting intention. Although AI did not influence intention to report in our study, other identities may be more influential. Additionally, incorrect terminology when discussion concussions, such as ding and bellringer, lead to decreased reporting. Clinicians should continue to work to educate athletes on the importance of concussion reporting and utilizing proper terminology.

Concussions have received significant media attention in recent years. Although research has focused on the knowledge and perceptions of parents, athletes, and coaches regarding sports-related concussions, little attention has been given to discovering what teachers know about concussions and the correct concussion protocol for the classroom, even though concussions affect academic performance. The purpose of this applied study was to understand further the problem of deficiency in teacher knowledge of sports-related concussions, including symptoms, academic adjustments needed, and how to design appropriate professional development to address this problem. This study incorporated a mixed methods design to examine the effect of concussion education professional development on classroom teachers' knowledge of concussions in general and the appropriate academic adjustments for students who have a sports-related concussion. The quantitative portion of the study included a pretest-posttest control group design. Secondary school teachers from an educational region in one southern state were invited to participate, and 33 completed the study. Through a customized website, all participants took a pretest, after which they were randomly assigned to either a control group (no professional development) or treatment group (professional development in the form of an online video and handout). Participants then took the posttest to determine whether the professional development had a statistically significant effect on concussion-related knowledge. For the qualitative portion of the study, individual interviews were conducted with eight of the participants after they watched a video about concussions. These interviews were used to determine the extent of perceived knowledge of symptoms and academic adjustments, and findings guided recommendations for a professional development plan that can be implemented in schools.

Few online concussion education programs have been developed specifically for parents, and those that have been tend to neglect the fact that concussion rates are higher in female rather than male student athletes (Donaldson et al., 2016; Macdonald & Hauber, 2016; Williamson et al., 2014). This quantitative study is important because it addressed gaps in the concussion education literature. The purpose of this study was to examine whether concussion symptoms knowledge and general youth sports-related concussion knowledge was significantly higher among parents of female student athletes who watched the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Heads Up concussion videos (intervention group) than among parents of female student athletes who read an online concussion awareness fact sheet (control group). A quasi-experimental, posttest-only control-group design was used to compare concussion knowledge differences between parents who watched the videos and those who read the standard concussion awareness fact sheet. The experiment was conducted using the online survey platform Qualtrics®. The required sample size was 128 participants, with 64 in the intervention group and 64 in the control group. The participants came from the Qualtrics® study pool of participants who met study criteria and were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. After random assignment and informed consent, parents clicked the screen link that took them to either the videos or the fact sheet. After completing the awareness fact sheet or watching the videos, parents answered an information survey and two questionnaires measuring parental knowledge of concussion symptoms and youth sports-related concussions, respectively. Descriptive statistics were run on participant data and the study dependent variables. Independent samples t-tests were conducted for hypothesis testing. The researcher found no significant difference in the understanding of concussion symptoms, as measured by the

National Football League (NFL) players have sustained concussions while playing football (Casson & Viano, 2010). There is a growing controversy between NFL players, their immediate families, and the league regarding alleged claims that management should be held responsible for the physical deterioration of former players including compensatory damages for suffering. Family members of current and past NFL players claim league officials provided inadequate education regarding risks associated with playing professional football. Former players are experiencing health issues such as dementia, early Alzheimer's, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), trouble concentrating and inability to work; in some cases these debilitating life-changing events have caused some players to commit suicide (Lipsky, 2008). This research seeks to discern the dilemma of concussions in the NFL and associated responsibilities of league management.