A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Feasibility and Adherence to an Aerobic Training Program in Healthy Individuals.

CONTEXT

Concussion management is moving from passive rest strategies to active interventions, including aerobic exercise therapy. Little information is available regarding the feasibility and adherence of these programs.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether an aerobic exercise training program intended for rehabilitation in people with concussion is feasible. Healthy, nonconcussed subjects were studied in this phase 1 trial.

DESIGN

Phase 1 parallel-group, randomized controlled trial in a sample of healthy (nonconcussed), recreationally active university students.

SETTING

Laboratory.

PATIENTS

40 healthy university students.

METHODS

Participants were equally randomized to acute concussion therapy intervention (ACTIVE) training or nontraining groups. All participants completed maximal cardiopulmonary exercise tests on a stationary cycle ergometer at 2 test sessions approximately 14 days apart. During this 2-week study period, ACTIVE training participants completed six 30-minute cycling sessions, progressing from 60% to 80% of the participant's individualized maximal oxygen consumption. A subset of participants (NACTIVE = 12, Nnontraining = 11) wore physical activity monitors throughout the 2-week study period.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES

Study protocol and randomization effectiveness, exercise safety and adherence, and progressive intensity of the ACTIVE training procedures.

RESULTS

No adverse events occurred during any exercise sessions. Twelve ACTIVE training participants (60%) completed all training sessions, and every participant completed at least 4 sessions. Heart rate increased throughout the training period (P < .001), but symptom changes and training adherence remained stable despite the progressively increasing workload. ACTIVE training participants completed approximately 30 additional minutes of physical activity on training sessions days, although that was not statistically significant (P = .20).

CONCLUSIONS

University-aged students were adherent to the ACTIVE training protocol. Future research should investigate the safety and feasibility of aerobic training programs in acutely concussed individuals to determine their appropriateness as a clinical rehabilitation strategy.