Cortical Plasticity Assessment in Athletes With a History of Concussion
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Neurology |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Neurology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 30 |
| Updated: | 3/30/2013 |
| Start Date: | April 2010 |
| Contact: | Kayleen M Weaver, BA |
| Email: | kmweaver@partners.org |
| Phone: | 617 573 2196 |
The purpose of this research is to determine whether athletes with concussion have changes
in cortical excitability.
Single and paired transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be used as reliable
neurophysiological marker of motor cortex reorganization in athletes with concussions.
This study also aims to determine whether modulation of cortical activity by a powerful
technique of noninvasive brain stimulation (tDCS) results in a different cortical response
as compared with sham tDCS.
This study is a multicenter study with investigators from other institutions (Dr. Alvaro
Pascual-Leone and Dr. Hugo Theoret).
Inclusion Criteria:
- Student-athletes at risk for traumatic brain injury (collegiate football, ice hockey)
- Age between 18 and 30 yr.
- Concussion as defined by the American Academy of Neurology: trauma-induced alteration
in mental status that may or may not involve loss of consciousness (confusion and
amnesia are the hallmarks of concussion)
- Concussion that occurred > 6 months
- All head injuries classified as minor with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 13 to 15 at the
time of the trauma
- Participants are cleared for full sport participation based upon neurological and
neuropsychological (NS) assessments Classified as symptomatic based on
Post-concussion Symptom List
Exclusion Criteria:
- Previous significant neurological history
- Use of tricyclic anti-depressants such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline and imipramine
within the past six months.
- Use of anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproic acid and gabapentin
within the past six months
- History of seizures, depression or PTSD
- Presence of post-concussion symptoms such as complaints of loss of concentration,
dizziness, fatigue, headache, irritability, visual disturbances, and light
sensitivity.
- Contraindications to single pulse TMS (TMS will be used to measure cortical
excitability) such as metal head implants
- history of seizures
- unexplained loss of consciousness
- metal in the head
- frequent or severe headaches or neck pain
- implanted brain medical devices.
- Contraindications to tDCS:
- metal in the head
- implanted brain medical devices
For the control group (subjects with no concussion) we will select subjects according to
the previously stated list of exclusions as well as the following criteria: Subjects who
are athletes (similar to the concussed group) with the same age range and also similar
level of education; however these subjects will have no prior history of concussion or
neurological insult as self reported. They should also have no contraindications to TMS or
tDCS.
We found this trial at
1
site
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital At Spaulding Rehabiliation Hospital Boston, our unique approach to therapy includes use...
Click here to add this to my saved trials
