The Influence of Aerobic Exercise Therapy on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Following Concussion: A Scoping Review

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this scoping review was to identify the effects of exercise therapy on patient-reported outcome measure(s) (PROM(s)) after concussion, and to highlight the current knowledge gaps in the literature. Methods: A search of EMBASE, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, BIOSIS, and Cochrane Libraries was performed on 1 December 2023 (from database inception) and updated on 19 June 2025 to review the available literature. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for scoping reviews was used to report the scoping review. An online review management system was used to remove duplicates and perform article screening. Results: Following the removal of duplicates, 5434 articles were identified for screening. After applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 27 articles remained for data extraction. The available literature has found that applying structured aerobic exercise following concussion can improve patient-reported symptom severity compared with control groups. Conclusions: There is currently a paucity of research reporting on the impact of aerobic exercise therapy following concussion on PROMs aside from patient-reported symptom severity. Additional PROMs recommended as common data elements should be included in future studies investigating the effects of aerobic exercise therapy following concussion.