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A Multi-Modal Approach to Assessing Recovery in Youth Athletes Following Concussion
Published on: September 25, 2014
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Subtypes of Sport-Related Concussion: a Systematic Review and Meta-cluster Analysis
S Langdon1,2, M Königs3,4, E A M C Adang3
1Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC (Location Academic Medical Center), University of Amsterdam, Emma Neuroscience Group, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. s.langdon@amsterdamumc.nl.
Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)
|July 29, 2020
Summary
Sport-related concussion (SRC) may have distinct subtypes, not a single type. Identifying these SRC subtypes, like migraine or cognitive-emotional clusters, can improve patient recovery and management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sports Medicine
- Psychology
Background:
- Current clinical guidelines for sport-related concussion (SRC) adopt a singular management approach.
- Symptom heterogeneity in SRC suggests the potential existence of distinct patient subtypes.
- Evidence for SRC subtypes and their clinical outcomes requires systematic investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review existing literature on sport-related concussion (SRC) subtypes.
- To identify symptom clusters within SRC using classification methodologies.
- To associate identified SRC symptom clusters with clinical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of Ovid Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus databases.
- Inclusion of studies identifying SRC symptom clusters or associating clusters with outcomes.
- Data extraction and risk of bias analysis performed by two independent reviewers.
Main Results:
- Evidence from six studies supports the existence of SRC symptom clusters.
- Multiple Correspondence Analysis identified five potential SRC subtypes: migraine, cognitive-emotional, sleep-emotional, neurological, and undefined feelings.
- Nineteen studies demonstrated significant associations between SRC symptom clusters and clinical outcomes, with migraine clusters showing the strongest link.
Conclusions:
- The literature supports at least five distinct subtypes of sport-related concussion (SRC).
- These SRC subtypes have demonstrable relevance to clinical outcomes.
- Differentiating SRC subtypes in prognosis, management, and interventions may enhance recovery.
