A six-year study in the Journal of Neurotrauma explored the impact of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) on concussion recovery in adolescents and young adults.

Vision therapy may be valuable for those suffering vision problems after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Optometrist Maureen Oyaide-Ofenor explains the process of vision therapy in an article published in Optometry Times Journal.

A review article by Stefanie Howell in the Psychiatric Times provides information to identify sleep-wake disturbances after traumatic brain injury (TBI), along with current diagnostic and treatment strategies. Although Howell writes generally about TBI (presumably of all severities), she notes that sleep-wake disturbances may develop after mild TBI (concussion), and several of the studies she references are specifically about mild TBI.

A clinical trial published in the Journal of Neurotrauma found that Swedish male elite ice hockey players using the PolarCap System immediately following a sports-related concussion returned to play significantly sooner.

A study found that post-concussion neck symptoms were prevalent in patients experiencing acute and chronic symptoms following a concussion. Graded cervical manual therapy was found to “reduce time to symptom resolution and medical clearance.”

A study found that “veterans with chronic headache were very interested in combining alternatives, such as acupuncture, massage, yoga or tai chi, with mainstream medicine and that they were encouraged by the fact that alternatives exist to simply taking additional pharmaceuticals for pain.”

The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board has created new guidelines for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). While some areas could be updated to reflect a more current and nuanced understanding of brain injury, the guidelines include all best-practice treatment modalities and emphasize the case-by-case, highly patient-specific nature of the injury.

A study by Josh Shore et al. found that a novel Tele-Active Rehabilitation (Tele-AR) program improved postconcussion symptoms, illness perception, and occupational performance (self-perception of performance in everyday living) in a small group of adolescents.

According to a study published in Neurology, 13.5% of mTBI patients had “poor cognitive outcomes” (vs. 4.5 % in a control group) one year after a mild traumatic brain injury (concussion).

An article in Harvard Health Publishing breaks down new research on healthcare disparities faced by patients with headache disorders. Researchers Jessica Kiarashi et al. found significant disparities based on race, sexuality, socioeconomic status (SES), urban/rural geographic differences, and more.

Brainline recently highlighted their article on mediation in their Brain Injury and PTSD Treatment Hub. The article primarily has general information about meditation and references a few studies. When mental training and breathing techniques are combined, a person may be able to slow and calm down their mind.

A study has found that for youth ages 10 to 18, “Resuming non-contact physical activity 72 hours after a concussion is safe, and may also reduce symptoms and the risk of delayed recovery,” according to a CHEO Research Institute press release.

Gradually increasing physical activity is now accepted as an “important aspect of appropriate clinical management.” However, post-concussion dizziness in the first weeks after a concussion reduces a patient’s propensity for physical activity and may potentially hinder recovery, a new study finds.

Over 1 million people report having mild traumatic brain injury or concussion (mTBI) per year. The second most persistent symptom reported is dizziness, ranging from feelings of “giddiness” to vertigo. A review article discusses the potential pathophysiology of dizziness and recommendations for patient care.

A study by Jackie L. Gottshall et al. found that poor sleep quality may be an "important driver of the relationships" between common post-mTBI neuropsychiatric disorders—major depressive disorder (MDD), post-concussive symptoms (PCS), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—and biomarkers of neurodegeneration.

An article published on Verywell Health provides a well-written overview of the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of post-traumatic headaches (PTH). These headaches typically stem from traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, the most common causes of which are falls, automobile injuries, sports injuries, and domestic abuse.

A study found that over half of participants had persistent sensorimotor impairments at four weeks to six months after suffering a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The authors note that “These disturbances were evident regardless of whether ongoing symptoms were reported,” including those patients who said they were asymptomatic.

According to a preliminary research study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, an 8-week neuromuscular training (NMT) intervention on sports-related injuries of young athletes may lead to a 3.5 times lower risk of injury when they return to play post-concussion.

Veterans with or without a history of head injury are encouraged to participate in a remote study to learn about how receiving bright light or negative ions in the morning might affect sleep in veterans of all ages.

In an effort to improve current unmet medical needs for athletes, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a non-invasive hypothermic therapy device intended to decrease the severity of concussion symptoms and help patients get back to their pre-injury baseline.