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Updated: Mar 21, 2026
A Neuroscientific Approach to the Examination of Concussions in Student-Athletes
Published on: December 8, 2014
Factors Associated With Return-to-Learn Duration After Concussion in US Service Academy Cadets and Midshipmen
Jeremy D Ross1, Michael J Aderman, Megan H Roach
1Author Affiliations: John A. Feagin Jr Sports Medicine Fellowship (Ross, Aderman, Malvasi, and Cameron), Keller Army Hospital, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York; Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence (Roach), Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Virginia and Department of Clinical Investigation, Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; United States Naval Academy (Susmarski), Annapolis, Maryland; United States Coast Guard Academy (Brodeur), New London, Connecticut; United States Air Force Academy (McGinty, Robb, and Jackson), USAFA, Colorado Springs, Colorado; University of Michigan Concussion Center (Broglio), Ann Arbor, Michigan; Medical College of Wisconsin (McCrea), Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Indiana University School of Medicine (McAllister), Indianapolis, Indiana; and Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (Aderman, Pasquina, and Cameron), Bethesda, Maryland.
Return-to-learn (RTL) after concussion is faster for men, varsity athletes, and those with fewer initial symptoms. Women, non-varsity athletes, and individuals with higher symptom burden experienced longer RTL durations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sports Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Concussion recovery is well-studied, but return-to-learn (RTL) duration and influencing factors require further exploration.
- Understanding RTL is crucial for academic reintegration after concussion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the duration of return-to-learn (RTL) after concussion.
- To identify factors influencing RTL duration, including sport level, sex, concussion history, and initial symptom burden.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study involving 1509 US military service academy cadets diagnosed with concussion.
- Data collected included demographics, sport level, concussion history, initial symptom burden (within 48 hours), and self-reported RTL duration.
Main Results:
- Average RTL duration was 8.1 days for men and 13.6 days for women.
- Fewer initial symptoms (≤6) were associated with significantly faster RTL compared to higher symptom burdens (7-15 or ≥16).
- Male sex and higher sport level (varsity) were also linked to quicker RTL in multivariable analyses.
Conclusions:
- Return-to-learn (RTL) duration is significantly influenced by sex, sport level, and initial symptom burden.
- Men, varsity athletes, and those with fewer initial symptoms recover academically faster post-concussion.
