A study published in Frontiers in Neurology found that non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) is associated with improvements in persisting concussion symptoms across cognitive, affective (mood), somatic (physical), and vestibular (balance) domains.

A “proof-of-concept” study found that 8-10 weeks of at-home treatment with a transcranial photobiomodulation device resulted in improvements in cognitive function in adults exposed to repetitive head acceleration events.

A group of researchers at Xi'an Jiaotong University found that four weeks of acupuncture, starting a week after a concussion, reduced concussion symptoms and improved brain tissue (white matter) integrity.

A study published in Nature found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO2) improved persistent symptoms in people with brain injuries, including those with mild traumatic brain injuries.

A clinical practice guideline (CPG) published in the New England Journal of Medicine recommends 24–72 hours of relative rest after a concussion, followed by a gradual return to activity and exercise.

A scientific abstract presented at the American Headache Society 67th Annual Scientific Meeting highlights that a combination of early interventions and therapies is crucial for alleviating symptoms in pediatric patients (ages 5-17) with new daily persistent headaches (NDPH).

A recent case report published in Journal of Clinical Medicine suggests that virtual-reality-based balance training may be effective for resolving persisting symptoms after concussion.

As part of the HERO study, researchers Raouf Gharbo and James Burchat are studying the effectiveness of heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback for veterans and service members with persisting symptoms after concussion.

A study found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can alleviate cognitive symptoms associated with post-concussion syndrome (PCS) in adults who suffered from mild or moderate traumatic brain injury and PCS as children and who are still dealing with persisting neurocognitive symptoms.

A narrative review in Brain Sciences evaluated 29 studies and found evidence that psilocybin could play a role in recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

A six-year study in the Journal of Neurotrauma explored the impact of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) on concussion recovery in adolescents and young adults.

Vision therapy may be valuable for those suffering vision problems after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Optometrist Maureen Oyaide-Ofenor explains the process of vision therapy in an article published in Optometry Times Journal.

A review article by Stefanie Howell in the Psychiatric Times provides information to identify sleep-wake disturbances after traumatic brain injury (TBI), along with current diagnostic and treatment strategies. Although Howell writes generally about TBI (presumably of all severities), she notes that sleep-wake disturbances may develop after mild TBI (concussion), and several of the studies she references are specifically about mild TBI.

A clinical trial published in the Journal of Neurotrauma found that Swedish male elite ice hockey players using the PolarCap System immediately following a sports-related concussion returned to play significantly sooner.

A study found that post-concussion neck symptoms were prevalent in patients experiencing acute and chronic symptoms following a concussion. Graded cervical manual therapy was found to “reduce time to symptom resolution and medical clearance.”

A study found that “veterans with chronic headache were very interested in combining alternatives, such as acupuncture, massage, yoga or tai chi, with mainstream medicine and that they were encouraged by the fact that alternatives exist to simply taking additional pharmaceuticals for pain.”

The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board has created new guidelines for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). While some areas could be updated to reflect a more current and nuanced understanding of brain injury, the guidelines include all best-practice treatment modalities and emphasize the case-by-case, highly patient-specific nature of the injury.

A study by Josh Shore et al. found that a novel Tele-Active Rehabilitation (Tele-AR) program improved postconcussion symptoms, illness perception, and occupational performance (self-perception of performance in everyday living) in a small group of adolescents.

According to a study published in Neurology, 13.5% of mTBI patients had “poor cognitive outcomes” (vs. 4.5 % in a control group) one year after a mild traumatic brain injury (concussion).

An article in Harvard Health Publishing breaks down new research on healthcare disparities faced by patients with headache disorders. Researchers Jessica Kiarashi et al. found significant disparities based on race, sexuality, socioeconomic status (SES), urban/rural geographic differences, and more.