Exercise Rehabilitation Study

Current Study:

  • Establishing the Effectiveness of an Exercise Rehabilitation Program for Persistent or Complex Concussion Injuries

Research Ethic Board Institution:

  • REB Protocol #6008359

Study Aim:

  • The purpose of the study is to explore the effectiveness of scheduled, monitored and graded exercise program consisting of sub-symptomatic, light aerobic exercise on symptom experience, anxiety and depression in patients with a persistent or complex concussion injury. We expect that the results of this work will contribute to decisions about an individual’s return to work or play following a concussion injury as well as provide knowledge translation for better health practices concerning concussion injury management.

Study Procedures:

  • At your first visit to the Health Centred Research Clinic you will undergo a series of non-invasive assessments. The initial assessment will include the following:  Concussion assessment form detailing information about concussion history, a symptom inventory questionnaire (Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory), standardized psychological surveys (General Anxiety Disorder and Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale) and questions of general health and wellness.

    You will be asked to perform tests measuring the following:

○ Static and dynamic balance (Balance Error Scoring System and Gait Initiation).

○ Tests of Neuro-cognition (Corsi Block Tapping Test) and Reaction Time (Audio and Visual Shake Test).

○ Contralateral Auditory Suppression of the Transient Evoked Oto-Acoustic Emission Tests (CAS- TEOAE).

○ Heart rate variability and blood pressure measurements.
You will then be asked to participate in a light exercise program consisting of 30 minutes of sub-symptomatic and heart rate controlled aerobic exercise on a treadmill or cycle ergometer three times per week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) for up to 24 weeks. Follow up assessments will be conducted at 6, 12, 18 and 24 week time intervals, if necessary. The follow up assessment will include the following:

Static and dynamic balance (Balance Error Scoring System and Gait Initiation).

○ Tests of Neuro-cognition (Corsi Block Tapping Test) and Reaction Time (Audio andVisual Shake Test).

○ Contralateral Auditory Suppression of the Transient Evoked Oto-Acoustic Emission Test (CAS- TEOAE).

○ Heart rate variability and blood pressure measurements.

○ General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) survey.

○ Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS) survey.

○ Post Concussion Symptom Inventory (PCSI) ​survey.

  • All exercise is sub-symptomatic. Meaning that if concussion symptoms arise during and exercise session, the participant will be put immediately into a cool down and exercise will be terminated for that day.
  • All assessments and exercise will be held at the Health Centered Research Clinic located at the Steel Building of the University of Prince Edward Island.

What is the time Commitment?

  • Time commitment: Initial concussion assessment will take approximately 1 hour to complete. Follow up assessments, held 6 12, 18 and 24 weeks if needed, will also take approximately 1 hour to complete. Exercise sessions, taking place three times per week, will be no longer than 30 minutes. Your participation in any part of this research study is voluntary. You may refuse to participate in this research study at any time, and you do not need to provide any justification for your decision.

Am I eligible?

  • A male or female over 16 years of age and continue to have post-concussion symptoms that persist longer than one month but not longer than 6 months after the initial concussion injury. The study exclusion criteria, which would disqualify you from the study, is the following: if you are actively being treated for an acute mental health disorder (eg. depression, anxiety).

Program Coordinator Contact information:

  • Matthew Gallant, B.Sc, Kinesiology. 

Research Coordinator

Email: mpwgallant@upei.ca

Phone: 902-566-0827

Health Centred Research Clinic, Steel Building UPEI