title: Does a 20 minute cognitive task increase concussion symptoms in concussed athletes?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to examine if concussion symptoms worsened immediately (i.e. 20 minutes) following performance on a computerized neurocognitive test.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 2.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 165 athletes with a concussion participated in the study. Participants completed the Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT) and Post-concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) at baseline, 3 and 10 days post-concussion. Participants completed a second PCSS following the ImPACT test at 3 and 10 days post-injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Athletes with a concussion exhibited greater symptoms post-neurocognitive test 3 days post-concussion on headache (p = 0.01), nausea (p = 0.03), dizziness (p = 0.03), sadness (p = 0.005), mentally foggy (p= 0.002) and visual problems (p = 0.007). Athletes with a concussion demonstrated increased symptoms on sadness (p = 0.00) and difficulty remembering (p = 0.03) at 10 days post-injury. Athletes also demonstrated neurocognitive impairments in verbal memory (p = 0.009) and slower reaction time (p = 0.01) 10 days post-concussion and visual memory (p = 0.000) and motor processing speed (p = 0.000) impairments at 3 days post-injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study suggests that there may be an increase in concussion symptoms following a 20-minute cognitive task. Thus, it illustrates the need for clinicians to make sure they are symptom free with both physical and cognitive testing.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University , East Lansing, MI , USA.
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Covassin
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Crutcher
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wallace
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics; D011930:Reaction Time; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors