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Teel E, Alarie C, Swaine B, Cook NE, Iverson GL, Gagnon I. An At-Home, Virtually Administered Graded Exertion Protocol for Use in Concussion Management: Preliminary Evaluation of Safety and Feasibility for Determining Clearance to Return to High-Intensity Exercise in Healthy Youth and Children With Subacute Concussion. J Neurotrauma 2023; 40:1730-1742. [PMID: 37212272 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2022.0370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Graded exertion testing (GXT) is an important tool for concussion management, as it is used to personalize post-concussion exercise prescription and return athletes to sport. However, most GXT requires expensive equipment and in-person supervision. Our objective was to assess the safety and feasibility of the Montreal Virtual Exertion (MOVE) protocol, a no-equipment, virtually compatible GXT, in healthy children and children with subacute concussion. The MOVE protocol consists of seven stages of bodyweight and plyometric exercises performed for 60 sec each. Twenty healthy (i.e., non-concussed) children completed the MOVE protocol virtually over Zoom Enterprise. Next, 30 children with subacute concussion (median: 31.5 days post-injury) were randomized to the MOVE protocol or Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test (BCTT), which increases the incline or speed of the treadmill every minute until maximum exertion. Out of an abundance of caution, all concussed participants completed the MOVE protocol in an in-person clinical space. However, the test evaluator was stationed in a different room within the clinic and administered the MOVE protocol using Zoom Enterprise software to mimic telehealth conditions. Safety and feasibility outcomes were recorded throughout GXT, including heart rate, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and symptom outcomes. No adverse events were recorded, and all feasibility criteria were successfully met in healthy youth and youth with concussion. Among concussed youth, increases in heart rate (MOVE: 82.4 ± 17.9 bpm, BCTT: 72.1 ± 23.0 bpm; t(28) = 1.36, p = 0.18), RPE (MOVE: 5.87 ± 1.92, BCTT: 5.07 ± 2.34, t(28) = 1.02, p = 0.32), and overall symptom presentation were similar between the MOVE and BCTT protocols. The MOVE protocol is a safe and feasible GXT in healthy youth and youth with subacute concussion. Future studies should assess the fully virtual administration of the MOVE in children with concussion, MOVE protocol tolerability in children with acute concussion, and whether the MOVE protocol can be used to guide individualized exercise prescription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Teel
- Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Christophe Alarie
- École de Réadaptation, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montréal (CRIR), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Bonnie Swaine
- École de Réadaptation, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montréal (CRIR), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Nathan E Cook
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Grant L Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Spaulding Research Institute, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Isabelle Gagnon
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Montréal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Leung T, Sveistrup H, Bayley M, Egan M, Rathbone M, Taljaard M, Marshall S. Identification of Clinical Measures to Use in a Virtual Concussion Assessment: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Res Protoc 2022; 11:e40446. [PMID: 36548031 PMCID: PMC9816949 DOI: 10.2196/40446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Workplace concussions can have a significant impact on workers. The impact of concussion symptoms, combined with challenges associated with clinical environments that are loud, bright, and busy, create barriers to conducting effective in-person assessments. Although the opportunity for remote care in rural communities has long been recognized, the COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed the transition to virtual assessments and care into the mainstream. With this rapid shift, many clinicians have been completing remote assessments. However, the approaches and measures used in these assessments have not yet been standardized. Furthermore, the psychometric properties of the assessments when completed remotely using videoconference have not yet been documented. OBJECTIVE Through this mixed methods study, we aim to (1) identify the concussion assessment measures clinicians are currently using in person and are most relevant to the following 5 physical domains: neurological examination (ie, cranial nerve, coordination, motor, and sensory skills), cervical spine, vestibular, oculomotor, and effort assessment; (2) document the psychometric properties of the measures identified; (3) identify measures that appear feasible in a virtual context; and (4) identify practical and technical barriers or challenges, facilitators, and benefits to conducting or engaging in virtual concussion assessments. METHODS This study will follow a sequential mixed methods design using a survey and Delphi approach, working groups with expert clinicians, and focus groups with experienced clinicians and people living with concussions. Our target sample sizes are 50 clinicians for the Delphi surveys, 4 clinician-participants for the working group, and 5-7 participants for each focus group (roughly 6-10 total groups being planned with at least two groups consisting of people living with concussions). The results from this study will inform the decision regarding the measures that should be included in a virtual assessment tool kit to be tested in a future planned prospective evaluation study. RESULTS The study is expected to be completed by January 2023. CONCLUSIONS This mixed methods study will document the clinical measures that are currently used in person and will identify those that are most relevant to assessing the physical domains impacted by concussions. Potential feasibility of using these measures in a virtual context will be explored. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/40446.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heidi Sveistrup
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Bruyere Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Mark Bayley
- Kite Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mary Egan
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Bruyere Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Michel Rathbone
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Monica Taljaard
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Shawn Marshall
- Bruyere Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Campbell KR, Wilhelm JL, Pettigrew NC, Scanlan KT, Chesnutt JC, King LA. Implementation and Adoption of Telerehabilitation for Treating Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. J Neurol Phys Ther 2022; 46:E1-E10. [PMID: 35666882 DOI: 10.1097/npt.0000000000000409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Multimodal physical therapy for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has been shown to improve recovery. Due to the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a clinical trial assessing the timing of multimodal intervention was adapted for telerehabilitation. This pilot study explored feasibility and adoption of an in-person rehabilitation program for subacute mTBI delivered through telerehabilitation. METHODS Fifty-six in-person participants-9 males; mean (SD) age 34.3 (12.2); 67 (31) days post-injury-and 17 telerehabilitation participants-8 males; age 38.3 (12.7); 61 (37) days post-injury-with subacute mTBI (between 2 and 12 weeks from injury) were enrolled. Intervention included 8, 60-minute visits over 6 weeks and included subcategories that targeted cervical spine, cardiovascular, static balance, and dynamic balance impairments. Telerehabilitation was modified to be safely performed at home with minimal equipment. Outcome measures included feasibility (the number that withdrew from the study, session attendance, home exercise program adherence, adverse events, telerehabilitation satisfaction, and progression of exercises performed), and changes in mTBI symptoms pre- and post-rehabilitation were estimated with Hedges' g effect sizes. RESULTS In-person and telerehabilitation had a similar study withdrawal rate (13% vs 12%), high session attendance (92% vs 97%), and no adverse events. The telerehabilitation group found the program easy to use (4.2/5), were satisfied with care (4.7/5), and thought it helped recovery (4.7/5). The telerehabilitation intervention was adapted by removing manual therapy and cardiovascular portions and decreasing dynamic balance exercises compared with the in-person group. The in-person group had a large effect size (-0.94) in decreases in symptoms following rehabilitation, while the telerehabilitation group had a moderate effect size (-0.73). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Telerehabilitation may be feasible for subacute mTBI. Limited ability to address cervical spine, cardiovascular, and dynamic balance domains along with underdosage of exercise progression may explain group differences in symptom resolution.Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A392 ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kody R Campbell
- Departments of Neurology (K.R.C., J.L.W., N.C.P., K.T.S., L.A.K.) and Family Medicine, Neurology, and Orthopedics and Rehabilitation (J.C.C.), Oregon Health and Science University, Portland; Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon (K.R.C., J.L.W., N.C.P., K.T.S., J.C.C., L.A.K.); and Center for Regenerative Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland
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