Can the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test Be Used as a Prognostic Indicator for Patients With Sport-Related Mild...

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Sport-related mild traumatic brain injury (SR-mTBI) is a common concern in athletes.
• Assessing recovery and predicting outcomes after SR-mTBI remains a clinical challenge.
• The Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test (BCTT) is utilized to establish exercise protocols for SR-mTBI recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if the duration of exercise cessation on the BCTT can predict recovery timelines in SR-mTBI patients.
• To investigate the prognostic value of BCTT completion for SR-mTBI recovery.
• To establish exercise progression guidelines based on BCTT results.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 321 SR-mTBI patients treated at a Specialist Concussion Clinic.
• Participants underwent BCTT if they remained symptomatic at a 2-week follow-up.
• Clinical recovery was the primary outcome, with BCTT used to guide a subsymptom threshold exercise program.

Main Results:

• Patients completing the full 20-minute BCTT protocol showed a significantly higher probability of clinical recovery compared to those who did not.
• Hazard ratios for recovery were lower for participants completing longer durations of the BCTT.
• Earlier post-injury assessment, younger age, and male sex were associated with better recovery outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Completion of the full 20-minute BCTT exercise protocol is a positive prognostic indicator for SR-mTBI recovery.
• The BCTT can guide exercise prescription and predict recovery trajectories in athletes with SR-mTBI.
• Faster clinical recovery was observed in patients who successfully completed the entire BCTT protocol.