Prior head injury but not sex or sports-participation affects expectations for post-injury rest and activity in simulated mild traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Rest acutely followed by a gradual return to activity is commonly recommended for mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the general public’s rest and activity expectations for this injury are unknown, as are the individual factors that might affect them. 165 individuals completed an online survey. A series of between-groups comparisons of expectations for the week following a mild TBI was performed. The comparisons were between individuals with or without a prior mild TBI; sports-playing versus non-sports-playing individuals, and; females versus males. Expectations were elicited for 39 everyday behaviours referred to in mild TBI patient advice. Compared to a rating indicating ‘no change’ in the amount of pre-injury activity, “rest” was expected for 37 items (p’s < .05). Expectations were not different based on participants’ sex or sports-participation. However, for seven predominantly cognitive items such as studying, a prior injury increased rest expectations (p < .05; small-to-medium effects). The findings indicate that whilst the proposed activity restrictions are appropriate for some circumstances such as acutely postinjury, they have the potential to be overly strong. To address this potential, especially with first-ever injury, clinicians and sports officials should check their patient’s postinjury rest and activity plans when providing active rest advice.

Keywords:

• concussion
• head injury
• injury advice
• patient care
• rehabilitation
• traumatic brain injury

Acknowledgements

The Queensland University of Technology Human Research Ethics Committee (QUT HREC no. 1600000435) approved this research. The QUT approved the risk management plan for this research. Funding for the prizes awarded in this project was provided by the School of Psychology and Counselling, QUT.