Predictors of Treatment Response to Multidisciplinary Care for Persistent Symptoms after Pediatric Concussion

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To assess which pediatric patients experiencing persistent post-concussive symptoms (PCS) benefit most from multidisciplinary treatment including specialists in Neurology, Neuropsychology, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Training, and to explore the effectiveness of this approach.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of 56 adolescents 10–20 years old (M = 15.0 ± 2.1) receiving multidisciplinary care for PCS (>30 days) was conducted.

Results

Systolic blood pressure and Body Mass Index predicted time to concussion resolution (p < .05), such that higher values were associated with slower resolution. PCS scores significantly decreased between participants’ initial and final clinic visits, p < .01, and among the 25 participants for whom pre-intervention PCS scores were available, symptom severity scores significantly declined following multidisciplinary intervention compared to pre-referral values (p < .01).

Conclusions

Exploratory analyses reveal that multidisciplinary treatment is a promising approach for reducing symptoms among adolescents with PCS, and that those with greater levels of physical fitness may benefit most.

KEYWORDS:

• Concussion
• multidisciplinary treatment
• pediatrics
• mild tbi
• post-concussive symptoms

Acknowledgments

The authors express sincere gratitude to Ashley Roy, Ph.D., Katie McGinty-Kolbe, FNP, Candace Coffman, DPT, Kristine Graft, DPT, Travis Gallagher, ATC, Danielle Denney, and Katie Van Horn, who assisted with providing exceptional clinical care to patients involved in this study.

Declaration of Interest Statement

The authors report no conflict of interest. This study was not sponsored.