Post-concussion return to play injuries reduced for athletes who received neuromuscular training, Colorado study finds
By Lori Mae Yvette Calibuso Acob. This article was initially published in our Concussion Update newsletter; please consider subscribing.
Medicine, an 8-week neuromuscular training (NMT) intervention on sports-related injuries of young athletes may lead to a 3.5 times lower risk of injury when they return to play post-concussion.
Lead author David R. Howell P.h.D explained in a press release that "It is important to understand that a concussion is a brain injury, but it is one that athletes can recover from. However, prior research indicates athletes who are cleared after a concussion have a greater risk of subsequent sports-related injuries such as ACL tears or sprained ankles than those without a concussion. We want to understand the risks and potential ways to mitigate risks so kids can get back to safely doing the things they love."
Dr Howell et al. conducted a randomized control trial of 27 athletes, aged 12-18 years old, who received treatment at Children's Hospital Colorado for sports-related concussions. Once they received a return to play clearance, the researchers divided the athletes into groups: the NMT intervention and the standard of care intervention. The NMT intervention group had 11 athletes who participated in "plyometric, strength, technique, and balance training" and dual tasks that consisted of motor-cognitive progressions. This training occurred twice a week for eight weeks. The remaining 16 athletes randomized to the standard of care group were told to "comply with their physician recommendations regarding return to play." These recommendations were consistent with the strategy outlined in the 5th International Consensus Statement.
The research team discovered that 75% of the 16 athletes in the standard of care group suffered from at least one injury following their return to play clearance, whereas 36% of the 11 athletes in the NMT intervention were injured. Although this is preliminary data limited by its small sample size and lack of generalizability to populations outside of the Children's Hospital Colorado, this data offers promising evidence for future rehabilitation programs for athletes that experience a concussion.