OBJECTIVE: To determine if an athlete's capacity to perform exercise is impaired following concussion and whether this would be reflected by an altered heart rate response. METHODS: Of the 14 concussed athletes, nine missed playing time as a direct result of their concussion and five did not. The concussed athletes performed an exercise protocol on a cycle ergometer within 72 hours of being asymptomatic at rest and a second test at 5 days following the previous assessment. Matched controls (n = 14) were tested using the same time line. The exercise protocol consisted of a 2 minute warm up, 10 minute, low-moderate intensity, steady state exercise session, and a high intensity interval protocol. The interval protocol consisted of a 40 second high intensity bout, followed by a 40 second rest period. This protocol continued until the participant had reached volitional fatigue. RESULTS: The number of exercise bouts completed was not significantly different from their matched controls. However, concussed athletes who missed playing time had a significantly higher heart rate during the steady state exercise session. During this same period, they also exhibited a greater rise in heart rate over time. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that exercise capacity is unaffected in concussed athletes who are asymptomatic at rest. However, their heart rate response to submaximal exercise is increased.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if an athlete's capacity to perform exercise is impaired following concussion and whether this would be reflected by an altered heart rate response. METHODS: Of the 14 concussed athletes, nine missed playing time as a direct result of their concussion and five did not. The concussed athletes performed an exercise protocol on a cycle ergometer within 72 hours of being asymptomatic at rest and a second test at 5 days following the previous assessment. Matched controls (n = 14) were tested using the same time line. The exercise protocol consisted of a 2 minute warm up, 10 minute, low-moderate intensity, steady state exercise session, and a high intensity interval protocol. The interval protocol consisted of a 40 second high intensity bout, followed by a 40 second rest period. This protocol continued until the participant had reached volitional fatigue. RESULTS: The number of exercise bouts completed was not significantly different from their matched controls. However, concussed athletes who missed playing time had a significantly higher heart rate during the steady state exercise session. During this same period, they also exhibited a greater rise in heart rate over time. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that exercise capacity is unaffected in concussed athletes who are asymptomatic at rest. However, their heart rate response to submaximal exercise is increased.
Authors: M Aubry; R Cantu; J Dvorak; T Graf-Baumann; K Johnston; J Kelly; M Lovell; P McCrory; W Meeuwisse; P Schamasch Journal: Br J Sports Med Date: 2002-02 Impact factor: 13.800
Authors: David Erlanger; Tanya Kaushik; Robert Cantu; Jeffrey T Barth; Donna K Broshek; Jason R Freeman; Frank M Webbe Journal: J Neurosurg Date: 2003-03 Impact factor: 5.115
Authors: Yang Wang; Lindsay D Nelson; Ashley A LaRoche; Adam Y Pfaller; Andrew S Nencka; Kevin M Koch; Michael A McCrea Journal: J Neurotrauma Date: 2015-11-12 Impact factor: 5.269