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Concussion Recovery Timeline of High School Athletes Using A Stepwise Return-to-Play Protocol: Age and Sex Effects.
- Source :
- Journal of Athletic Training (Allen Press); Jan2020, Vol. 55 Issue 1, p6-10, 5p, 3 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Context: Implementation of a stepwise return-to-play (RTP) protocol has become the standard management strategy for high school athletes to ensure a safe RTP after concussion. The detailed characteristics of the recovery timeline throughout the steps of an RTP protocol have not been delineated among the adolescent population. Objective: To investigate the days spent in each step of the stepwise RTP protocol in an adolescent population and examine the effects of age and sex on recovery time. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Local schools. Patients or Other Participants: Student-athletes from 57 schools. Intervention(s): A total of 726 patients with concussion (age = 15.5 ± 1.2 years, males = 454, females = 272) were included. The 7-step RTP protocol consists of the following steps: (1) complete cognitive rest, (2) full return to school, (3) light exercise, (4) running progression, (5) noncontact training drills and weight training, (6) full-contact practice or training, and (7) return to game play. The data were obtained by certified athletic trainers as a part of the statewide standardized concussion-management protocol. Main Outcome Measure(s): Days spent in steps 0 to 6 as well as a breakdown of days by sex and age. Results: The average total RTP days were 20.2 ± 13.9. Half of this time was spent in the return-to-school phase (steps 2-3:10.2 ± 10.0 days). Compared with 17-year-old participants, younger participants (age = 14-16 years) took 3 or 4 days longer to start step 3 and to reach step 6 (P, .05). Females took longer to reach step 6 than males (21.6 ± 15.5 versus 19.3 ± 12.7 days) because they took longer to reach step 3 (14.7 ± 11.4 days) than males (13.0 ± 10.0 days; P, .05). Conclusions: Our study provides an estimated stepwise concussion recovery timeline for adolescent student-athletes. Clearance to start step 3 was the benchmark for the recovery timeline, as the duration of the exercise portion of the protocol was consistent across the age and sex groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- AGE distribution
ANALYSIS of variance
ATHLETIC ability
BRAIN concussion
COMPARATIVE studies
CONFIDENCE intervals
CONVALESCENCE
EXERCISE
MEDICAL records
RELAXATION for health
SCHOOLS
SEX distribution
STATISTICS
TIME
DATA analysis
SPORTS participation
PHYSICAL training & conditioning
CROSS-sectional method
RETROSPECTIVE studies
DATA analysis software
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
RESISTANCE training
ACQUISITION of data methodology
ONE-way analysis of variance
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10626050
- Volume :
- 55
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Athletic Training (Allen Press)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 141247787
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-452-18