| There is insufficient clinical evidence to recommend prolonged rest following sport-related concussion (SRC), although the optimal timing and nature of activity post-SRC remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and feasibility of implementing a standardized aerobic exercise (AE) intervention in a population of adolescent males within the post-acute phase of SRC recovery. Eight participants were administered the intervention beginning on Day 6 post-injury on a stationary bicycle, while seven control participants underwent usual care (i.e. rest followed by a gradual return to activities). Results demonstrate that overall time to medical clearance was not significantly different between groups, although the Exercise Group did achieve a greater trend towards symptom resolution and cardio-autonomic normalization compared to the Usual Care Group. Findings suggest that the AE intervention is safe and beneficial to administer in the post-acute stage of SRC recovery. |
