Perceptual Cognitive Training Does Not Improve Clinical Outcomes at 4 and 12 Weeks Following Concussion in Children and Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial
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Updated: Nov 30, 2025
Development and Implementation of a Multi-Disciplinary Technology Enhanced Care Pathway for Youth and Adults with Concussion
Published on: January 20, 2019
Elizabeth Teel1, Marie Brossard-Racine, Laurie-Ann Corbin-Berrigan
1School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Drs Teel, Marie Brossard-Racine, and Gagnon); Division of Neonatology (Dr Marie Brossard-Racine) and Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine (Dr Gagnon), Department of Pediatrics, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Dr Marie Brossard-Racine); and Département des sciences de l'activité physique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada (Dr Corbin-Berrigan).
Objective:
To determine whether a perceptual-cognitive training program using 3D-multiple object tracking (3D-MOT) can improve symptoms following acute pediatric concussion.
Setting:
Research laboratory within a pediatric trauma center.
Participants:
Children and adolescents (n = 62, age= 13.27 ± 2.50) with diagnosed concussion.
Design:
Randomized controlled trial. Children were randomized into either 3D-MOT, 2048 game, or standard care-only groups. Participants and parents completed the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory (PCSI) at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks postinjury. Intervention participants completed either the 3D-MOT protocol or the 2048 game at 6 sessions between the baseline and 4-week assessment.
Main Measures:
A 3 (group) × 10 (time) mixed-model analysis of variance evaluated PCSI total scores. The rate of persistent postconcussive symptom (PPCS) was evaluated at 4 weeks using χ2 analysis.
Results:
Symptoms decreased throughout the study using both child-reported (F(9,374) = 22.03, P < .001) and parent-reported scores (F(9,370) = 28.06, P < .001). Twenty-four (44.4%) children met the study definition for PPCS using the child-reported PCSI, while 20 (37.7%) children had PPCS using parent reports. The intervention did not significantly affect symptom resolution or PPCS rates.
Conclusion:
There is no benefit to prescribing 3D-MOT training for acute rehabilitation in pediatric patients with concussion and clinicians should instead focus on more effective programs.
