Heat, cold, and pressure pain thresholds following a sport-related concussion

Summary

The purpose of this study is evaluate heat, cold, and pressure pain thresholds in individuals who have suffered a sport-related concussion compared to control subjects (orthopaedic injured controls and uninjured controls).

Sport-related concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury that may result in a wide variety of symptoms including physical, cognitive, and/or behavioral functional impairments. The mechanisms leading to many of the common symptoms (headache, dizziness, neck pain, etc) are not well understood, but it is generally accepted that the symptoms may represent changes in the physiology of the brain. A concussion may, in some cases, lead to increased pain sensitivity to otherwise tolerable stimulation. Studies involving relatable injuries such as whiplash and other neck injuries suggest it may be important to identify individuals with increased pain sensitivity, as these individuals may be more likely to experience a poor recovery outcome and be less responsive to conservative treatment.

There is minimal research evaluating changes in pain sensitivity following a concussion, despite clinical presentations that suggest this may occur. Thus, we are aiming to highlight the importance of identifying individuals with increased pain sensitivity following concussion in order to ensure that these individuals are receiving early and appropriate treatment strategies, which would ultimately help to improve their recovery outcomes.

Eligibility

Currently recruiting participants: Yes

Eligible ages: 13 to 60

Accepts healthy participants: Yes

Inclusion criteria:

Sport-related concussion participants:
1) Individuals 13 – 60 years of age
2) Physician diagnosed concussion according to the 5th Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport having occurred in the past four weeks during a sport activity
3) Participant or parent/guardian informed consent.

Orthopaedic control participants:
1) Individuals 13 – 60 years of age
2) Physician diagnosed orthopaedic injury having occurred in the past four weeks.
3) Participant or parent/guardian informed consent.

Healthy control participants:
1) Individuals 13 – 60 years of age
2) Participant or parent/guardian informed consent.

Exclusion criteria:

1) Patients having sustained their concussion more than four weeks before their initial appointment at the ASCC or local sport medicine clinic
2) Patients having sustained their concussion outside of a sport activity (ex. Motor vehicle accident, everyday activity)
3) Neurological disorders (Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetic neuropathy) that could affect the interpretation of pain stimuli

Participate

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Method of contact

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Additional information

Contact information

Concussion Clinic Research Coordinator

Principal investigator:

Kathryn Schneider

Clinical trial:

No

REB-ID:

REB19-1042