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Procedure

Photobiomodulation Therapy for Sports Concussion

N/A
Recruiting
Led By Summer Ott, PsyD
Research Sponsored by The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Be younger than 65 years old
Must not have
Concomitant extracranial injury worse than mild
Individuals who are taking benzodiazepines, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers, stimulants, opioids, sleep aids, or other neuropsychiatric medications
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up baseline (3-7 days post injury), visit 2 (10-14 days post injury), visit 3 (30 days post injury)
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial aims to compare the effects of Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMt) to the standard care for adolescent athletes who are at risk for delayed recovery from sports-related concussions. They

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adolescent athletes who are experiencing a slow recovery from recent sports-related concussions. Participants must be in the subacute phase of concussion, meaning they're past the initial injury but still have symptoms. They should not yet have received any other treatment for their concussion.
What is being tested?
The study is testing Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMt), which uses light to promote healing, against the standard care given for concussions. The goal is to see if PBMt can speed up recovery. Researchers will also use advanced MRI scans to look at how the brain's connections change over time with this treatment.
What are the potential side effects?
Since PBMt involves using light therapy, potential side effects may include discomfort or irritation at the site of application, headache, fatigue or dizziness post-treatment. However, these tend to be mild and temporary.

Eligibility Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I have a serious injury in addition to my brain injury.
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I am currently taking medication for my mood, sleep, or seizures.
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I have undergone neurosurgery.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~baseline (3-7 days post injury), visit 2 (10-14 days post injury), visit 3 (30 days post injury)
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and baseline (3-7 days post injury), visit 2 (10-14 days post injury), visit 3 (30 days post injury) for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Change in anxiety as assessed by the Neuro-QoL Short Form v1.0 - Pediatric Anxiety scale
Change in depression as assessed by the Neuro-QoL Short Form v1.1 - Pediatric Depression scale
Change in intensity of post-concussion symptoms as assessed by Total Symptom Score on the Post-Concussion Symptoms Scale (PCSS) of the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) Concussion Test
+1 more
Secondary study objectives
Change in cognitive function as assessed by composite score on the Impulse Control component of the ImPACT Concussion Test
Change in cognitive function as assessed by composite score on the Reaction Time component of the ImPACT Concussion Test
Change in cognitive function as assessed by composite score on the Verbal Memory component of the ImPACT Concussion Test
+5 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Treatment: Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMt)Experimental Treatment2 Interventions
Group II: ControlActive Control1 Intervention

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

The University of Texas Health Science Center, HoustonLead Sponsor
946 Previous Clinical Trials
344,555 Total Patients Enrolled
TIRR Foundation Mission ConnectUNKNOWN
Summer Ott, PsyDPrincipal InvestigatorThe University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
~20 spots leftby Apr 2026