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Does exercise evoke neurological symptoms in healthy subjects?
Sridhar Alla1, S John Sullivan, Paul McCrory
1Centre for Physiotherapy Research, University of Otago, New Zealand. allsr357@student.otago.ac.nz
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
|February 24, 2009
Summary
High-intensity exercise significantly increases neurological symptoms in healthy individuals, mimicking concussion signs. Sports medicine professionals must consider exercise effects when evaluating athletes for return-to-play decisions.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Neurology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Concussion is a common injury in collision sports, with neurological symptoms crucial for diagnosis and return-to-play decisions.
- Similar symptoms are prevalent in the general population and linked to physical activity, complicating concussion assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document neurological symptoms in healthy individuals after controlled exercise of varying intensities.
- To differentiate exercise-induced symptoms from potential concussion symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A crossover randomized design involving 60 healthy participants.
- Two exercise intensities (moderate and high) for 15 minutes each, with symptom checklists completed pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and post-rest.
- Analysis using a 2-way repeated measures ANOVA.
Main Results:
- High-intensity exercise led to a significant increase in reported neurological symptoms immediately post-exercise (p<0.001).
- Moderate-intensity exercise showed a similar trend, but it was not statistically significant.
- The intensity x time interaction was significant (F(2,118)=23.94, p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- Sports medicine professionals must recognize that exercise, particularly high-intensity, can induce symptoms similar to those of a concussion.
- Awareness of exercise's impact on symptom reporting is vital for accurate concussion assessment and informed return-to-play decisions.
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