Intervention for Traumatic Brain Injury

Concussions occur most frequently in adolescents and often result in significant disruption to daily living for prolonged periods of time. Concussions are an epidemic, with the incidence rates for sports related concussions (SRC) in adolescents up to 0.47 per 1000 athlete exposures. Research would suggest that multi-planar neck strength is a protective factor of SRC risk in adolescents as greater neck strength is associated with a lower SRC risk.(Collins et al) Neck pain is a common symptom associated with SRC that is also associated with prolonged recovery from SRC. (King et al, Van der Naalt et al) Neck pain is also associated with decreased neck muscle strength (DeKoning et al). Our study will address a critical gap in concussion management - multi-planar cervical spine strengthening to specifically rehabilitate the cervicogenic component of prolonged post-concussion symptoms with a cervicogenic component and determine if this approach restores normal neck strength, decreases neck pain and headaches, improves daily global function and allow patients to return to sport and school. work more quickly than those without specific multi-planar neck strengthening.