Home Emergency Medicine Early Exercise After Concussion May Cut Teens’ Anxiety

Early Exercise After Concussion May Cut Teens’ Anxiety

Links also seen for initial concussion symptom severity and preconcussion anxiety

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, March 8, 2024 (HealthDay News) — More moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) early after a teen’s concussion may lower anxiety scores, according to a study published online Dec. 27 in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

Katherine L. Smulligan, P.T., from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, and colleagues examined how MVPA during concussion recovery influences self-reported anxiety symptoms at follow-up assessment (42 days) among 48 participating youth (aged 13 to 18 years).

The researchers found an inverse and low correlation between MVPA and follow-up Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) anxiety subscale T-scores (r = −0.30). MVPA (β = −5.30), initial Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory score (β = 0.11), and preconcussion anxiety (β = 5.56) were associated with follow-up PROMIS anxiety subscale T-scores. No association was seen for sex (β = −2.60) with follow-up PROMIS anxiety subscale T-scores.

“There is so much in the body that can be affected by concussion, and everybody experiences symptoms a little differently, so it can be hard to study,” coauthor David Howell, Ph.D., also of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, said in a statement. “That means we must design studies that focus on understanding specific relationships and associations in a rigorous manner. Over time, when we do enough studies, we can begin to replicate findings and put a whole story together that can help inform best practices and standard of care.”

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