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Updated: Jan 3, 2026
10:31
A Multi-Modal Approach to Assessing Recovery in Youth Athletes Following Concussion
Published on: September 25, 2014
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Relationships between Post-Concussion Sleep and Symptom Recovery: A Preliminary Study
Nicole L Hoffman1, Patrick J O'Connor2, Michael D Schmidt2
1School of Kinesiology and Recreation, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois.
Journal of Neurotrauma
|November 28, 2019
Summary
Post-concussion sleep disturbances, including longer wake times and lower sleep efficiency, are linked to prolonged symptom recovery. Poor sleep quality after a concussion may indicate a higher risk for a longer recovery period.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Post-concussion sleep disturbances are common and can impact recovery duration.
- Limited evidence exists on the specific relationship between sleep parameters and recovery time following a concussion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between sleep disturbances, measured by actigraphy and subjective questionnaires, and the time to symptom recovery in college students diagnosed with a concussion.
Main Methods:
- Seventeen college students with concussions underwent continuous wrist-worn actigraphy from injury (within 72 hours) until symptom recovery.
- Subjective sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) were assessed at recovery.
- Pearson's and Spearman's correlations analyzed relationships between sleep metrics and days to recovery.
Main Results:
- Increased wake after sleep onset (WASO_norm) and lower sleep efficiency (SE) at the midpoint of recovery correlated with longer recovery times (r=0.58, p=0.015; r=-0.51, p=0.035, respectively).
- Poorer overall sleep quality, assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), was significantly correlated with longer recovery duration (r=0.70, p=0.001).
Conclusions:
- Sleep-wake disturbances during the recovery phase and poorer overall sleep quality post-concussion are associated with extended symptom recovery.
- These findings suggest that objective and subjective sleep assessments can help identify individuals at risk for prolonged recovery after a concussion.
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