Assessing the Effects of Photobiomodulation on Clinical Recovery From Concussion in Adolescents

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to compare effects of Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMt) to standard of care in adolescent athletes at risk for delayed recovery from subacute sports concussion, to substantiate the impact of subacute PBMt over time on functional and structural connectivity of the brain using advanced MRI sequences and to correlate the psychological and behavioral outcomes to neuroimaging findings

Condition

  • Sports-related Concussion

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 13 Years and 18 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • current participants in a school- or club-sponsored sport (contact or non-contact) - access to wireless internet service at home - diagnosis of sports-related concussion (SRC) (according to consensus diagnostic criteria) by a licensed healthcare provider,3-7 days from the concussive injury at the time of enrolment - considered at-risk for protracted recovery based on Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) performance and symptom reporting on the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS)

Exclusion Criteria

  • acute neurologic deterioration to a Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 13 - neurosurgical intervention - abnormal CT scan - concomitant extracranial injury worse than mild - pre-injury conditions which confound effects of SRC (e.g., epilepsy, schizophrenia, bipolar illness, mental deficiency, hospitalization for TBI) - substance dependence - inability to speak fluent English - Individuals who are taking benzodiazepines, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers, stimulants, opioids, sleep aids, or other neuropsychiatric medications

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Single (Investigator)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Treatment: Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMt)
  • Device: Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMt)
    Participants will be asked to use the photobiomodulation (PBM) device for 20 minutes, daily (e.g., Monday - Sunday) for a total of 30 days. The device will be preprogrammed and automatically switched off after 20 minutes.
  • Other: Standard of Care
    The patient is provided with verbal and written education including what a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is, favorable expectations for recovery, and advice about how to manage specific symptoms. Relative rest for the first 24-48 hours after an mTBI is recommended as the main goal is to alleviate symptoms and reduce demands on the brain. After an initial period of relative rest and symptom stabilization, patients are encouraged to gradually resume normal daily activities as tolerated. Physical and cognitive activities can be progressively resumed at a pace that does not worse existing or create new symptoms. Education, return to activity advice, and symptom management are all reviewed in subsequent visits as needed.
Active Comparator
Control
  • Other: Standard of Care
    The patient is provided with verbal and written education including what a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is, favorable expectations for recovery, and advice about how to manage specific symptoms. Relative rest for the first 24-48 hours after an mTBI is recommended as the main goal is to alleviate symptoms and reduce demands on the brain. After an initial period of relative rest and symptom stabilization, patients are encouraged to gradually resume normal daily activities as tolerated. Physical and cognitive activities can be progressively resumed at a pace that does not worse existing or create new symptoms. Education, return to activity advice, and symptom management are all reviewed in subsequent visits as needed.

Recruiting Locations

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, Texas 77030
Contact:
Summer Ott, PsyD
713-486-3435
Summer.D.Ott@uth.tmc.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Study Contact

Summer Ott, PsyD
(713) 486-3435
Summer.D.Ott@uth.tmc.edu