In the last two weeks, the Concussion in Sport Group (CISG) has become engulfed in a scandal that has ramifications for concussion management across the globe. Dr. Paul McCrory, “chair of the Concussion in Sport Group (CISG) and lead author of four of the five Consensus Statements on Concussion in Sport,” resigned on March 5 following revelations of multiple instances of plagiarism.

Gradually increasing physical activity is now accepted as an “important aspect of appropriate clinical management.” However, post-concussion dizziness in the first weeks after a concussion reduces a patient’s propensity for physical activity and may potentially hinder recovery, a new study finds.

When is virtual concussion care appropriate? How do you conduct a virtual concussion exam? Which part of the exam cannot be done virtually? (Spoiler alert, it’s orthostatic vitals, cardiovascular/respiratory, and gait). A group of leading U.S. and Canadian concussion researchers/clinicians have authored a Virtual Concussion Exam Training Manual.

A study found that “students who sustained a concussion during the pandemic did not report increased academic concerns or reduced QOL [quality of life] compared to those whose injury was prior to the pandemic.”

A study of concussion patients to determine the impact of “initiating physical activity as soon as 24 to 48 hours after concussion to reduce persistent postconcussive symptoms.” They found that adolescent concussion patients who initiated physical activity before their first clinic visit (clinic visits were an average of 9.8 days after concussion) were better off.

Free opportunity to try a CBT app for insomnia, customized for military members. A clinical trial is enrolling 200 service members and veterans to test the efficacy of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) app for insomnia that has been customized to be specific to military members.

A research study will evaluate the effectiveness of a newly developed national Return to Learn program, which provides guidance for high school students who have suffered a concussion and are returning to the academic classroom. The study is recruiting participants through June 1st, 2021

We delve into the Forbes article which details budget-friendly mental health support options that may be helpful for concussion patients.

The Portland Sleep Study is calling for study participants for a Morning Routine study for veterans. The federal Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine is looking for study participants for research on a cognitive behavioral therapy app for insomnia and TBI. The clinical trials are recruiting veterans and military service members.

This is a case study of home-use, self-treatment photobiomodulation (light therapy) for a professional hockey player with persistent post-concussion (PCS) symptoms.

Part of Harvard’s Football Players Health Study found an association between concussions suffered while playing in the NFL and low testosterone and erectile dysfunction later in life. Head trauma injuries to the pituitary gland likely cause low testosterone levels, and the authors believe that the results have implications for everyone who has experienced a head injury.

Researchers tested male and female adolescent mice, with different severities of TBI, for sensitivity to the rewarding effects of cocaine. The male mice showed increased sensitivity after TBI, but the females with high levels of female sex hormones at the time of their TBI showed neuroprotection against cocaine sensitivity.

Concussion Alliance provided educational components for the Sports and Traumatic Brain Injury conference, hosted by the Northwest Brain Injury Symposium (NWBIS). The event was part of the NWBIS lecture series and compliments the Smithsonian traveling exhibit “Hometown Teams.”

This article is a brief history on the research into light therapy (photobiomodulation) using LED light devices as a potential treatment for mTBI, persistent post-concussion symptoms, and possible CTE.

A day-long course, “Evidence-based Management of Vision Deficits Following Mild to Moderate TBI” will be presented by one of the leading researchers and clinicians in the field, Neera Kapoor, OD, MS, FAAO, FCOVD-A.

The nonprofit TeachAids.org, which was spun out of Stanford University, has been working to create “concussion education reimagined for today’s generation.” Their first product is a CrashCourse, a 10-minute video which was filmed in Virtual Reality and HD. The viewer is set on the field during a football game and must choose whether to leave the game after a significant hit.

CBD products from marijuana will have accurate labeling for purity and cannabinoid content, where the sale of marijuana is legalized. CBD products from hemp are unregulated, so we recommend purchasing from CBD hemp companies vetted by the online community Reddit. An advantage of marijuana products is that THC also has some neuroprotective qualities, and works synergistically with CBD to enhance medical benefits.

World Health Organization (WHO) report: CBD has a "good safety profile" and "may be a useful treatment" for numerous medical conditions. In June 2018, WHO will do a further review of extracts or preparations containing almost exclusively CBD.