Results for Concussion

Question 1

What were the results of your study regarding VAS?

Answer 1

Recall the BCBT (i.e., Visit 1) was completed by the SRC group (but not the HC group), and perceived exertion was measured via a visual analogue scale (VAS) at 2-min increments during the test. Notably, no participant in the SRC group reported a VAS score ≥ 3 above their self-reported baseline, with 15/16 participants completing the BCBT to their maximal permitted exertion (RPE = 17) and one participant completing the entire protocol (i.e., 30 min) without attaining their exertion threshold (Table 2).

Question 2

What were the results of your study regarding RPE?

Answer 2

• For the exercise intervention (i.e., Visit 2), RPE scores for SRC and HC groups were collected every 2 min, and these data were examined via 2 (group: HC, SRC) by 11 (time: warm-up, 2-min iterative time points during the exercise, and at both cool-down time points) split-plot ANOVA.
• Results produced a main effect for time, p < .001, ηp2 = 0.57 (large), such that values increased linearly from baseline throughout the exercise intervention and then decreased during the first and second cool-down time points (i.e., significant quadratic polynomial: p < .001, ηp2 = 0.72 (large).
• Notably, RPE did not produce a reliable effect for group, p =.91, ηp2 < 0.1, nor a group by time interaction, p =.37, ηp2 = 0.03. Accordingly, perceived exercise intensity was comparable between SRC and HC groups (Figure 5).
  The left and right panels show visual analogue scale (VAS) and Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scores, respectively, for the sport-related concussion (SRC) and healthy controls (HC) during the 20-minute aerobic exercise intervention (i.e., Visit 2). The timeline for the aerobic exercise session includes baseline (minute 0), warm-up (minutes 1-3), exercise at prescribed intensity (minutes 4-19), and cool-down (minutes 20-22).

Question 3

What were the results of your study regarding SCAT-5?

Answer 3

• SCAT-5 total symptom frequency and severity (SRC group only) evaluated at pre-BCBT (Visit 1) were contrasted to values following the postexercise oculomotor assessment (i.e., end of Visit 2) and at the 24-hour follow-up (Table 3).
• Results showed that the total frequency and severity of symptoms did not reliably differ between pre-BCBT and the end of Visit 2 for frequency and severity, respectively, ps >.07, dz = 0.48 and 0.46 (medium), whereas at the 24-h follow-up, total symptom frequency and severity were less than the pre-BCBT assessment, ps < .01, dz = 0.72 and 0.64) (large). 8.9 to 4.4 and 16.1 to 6.
  As well, SCAT-5 symptom frequency and severity did not reliably differ between pre-and postexercise oculomotor assessments, ps >.61, dz = 0.13 and 0.03 (small).