A systematic review of criteria used to define recovery from sport-related concussion in youth athletes

Abstract

ObjectiveThe Concussion in Sport Group guidelines recommend a multifaceted approach to help clinicians make return to sport decisions. The purpose of this study was to identify the most common multifaceted measures used to define clinical recovery from sport-related concussion in young athletes (high school and/or college level) and to summarise existing knowledge of criteria used to make return to sport decisions.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesThe PubMed (MEDLINE), SPORTDiscus and Embase electronic databases were searched from 1 January 2000 to 1 March 2017 by three independent reviewers.Eligibility criteriaInclusion criteria: elementary, high school and college age groups, and a specific definition of clinical recovery that required two or more measures. Exclusion criteria: review articles, articles using the same sample population, case studies, non-English language and those that used one measure only or did not specify the recovery measures used.Study qualityStudy quality was assessed using the Downs and Black Criteria.ResultsOf 2023 publications, 43 met inclusion criteria. Included articles reported the following measures of recovery: somatic symptom resolution or return to baseline (100%), cognitive recovery or return to baseline (86%), no exacerbation of symptoms on physical exertion (49%), normalisation of balance (30%), normal special physical examination (12%), successful return to school (5%), no exacerbation of symptoms with cognitive exertion (2%) and normalisation of cerebral blood flow (2%). Follow-up to validate the return to sport decision was reported in eight (19%) articles. Most studies were case–control or cohort (level of evidence 4) and had significant risk of bias.ConclusionAll studies of sport-related concussion use symptom reports to define recovery. A minority of studies used multiple measures of outcome or had clearly defined recovery criteria, the most common being a combination of a self-reported symptom checklist and a computerised neurocognitive test. Future studies ideally should define recovery a priori using objective physiological measures in addition to symptom reports.