title: The Effectiveness of Prescribed Rest Depends on Initial Presentation After Concussion.
abstract: To evaluate if patients with signs of injury respond differently to prescribed rest after concussion compared with patients with symptoms only.
  
  
  
  Secondary analysis was completed of a prospective randomized controlled trial (NCT01101724) of pediatric concussion patients aged 11-18 years. Patients completed computerized neurocognitive testing and standardized balance assessment at the emergency department within 24 hours of injury and on follow-up (3 and 10 days). Patients were randomized to rest or usual care and completed activity and symptom diaries for 10 days after injury. A series of 2?×?2 ANOVAs with grouping factors of patient group (symptoms, signs) and treatment arm (prescribed rest, standard of care) were used to examine differences on clinical measures. Univariate nonparametric test (ie, ?2with ORs and 95% CIs) was used to examine the association between treatment arm and symptom status 1-9 days after injury.
  
  
  
  A 2?×?2 factorial ANOVA revealed a significant patient group × treatment arm interaction for symptom score at 3 days after injury (F?=?6.31, P?=?.01, ?2?=?0.07). Prescribed rest increased the likelihood of still being symptomatic at days 1-6 and 8 (P?<?.05) for the symptoms group. Rest was beneficial for patients in the signs group on verbal memory performance (t?=??2.28, P?=?.029), but not for the symptoms group.
  
  
  
  Compared with patients with signs of injury, patients with predominantly symptoms were more likely to remain symptomatic after injury if prescribed rest, whereas patients with signs of injury benefited from rest after a concussion. Individualized treatment planning after concussion should start in the emergency department.
  
  
  
  ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01101724.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Alicia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sufrinko
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kontos
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI.
authors.forename: Jennifer N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Apps
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCrea
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hickey
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI. Electronic address: dthomas@mcw.edu.
authors.forename: Danny G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001510:Bed Rest; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004856:Postural Balance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function
keywords: balance; neurocognitive impairment; recovery; symptoms