What is the Buffalo Treadmill Test?

Discussion Head injury and concussion diagnosis and treatment continues to evolve. The current recommendations are evolving from more strict rest and wait to more limited activity and exercise. Interventions have shown data supporting reasonable exercise as not more harmful and potentially beneficial. Learning Point The Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test (BCTT) evaluated 13-18 year old athletes (N=103) using a randomized controlled trial of early subthreshold aerobic exercise for sports-related concussion. The control group performed a stretching program for the same amount of time and were given the same general care instructions. The intervention group performed aerobic exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike wearing a heart rate monitor. Baseline heart rate when symptoms were exacerbated was determined at the initial evaluation. Patients were to perform daily exercise that was 80% of this symptom threshold. Exercise was to be for 20 minutes or to stop if symptoms worsened by 2 points on a visual analog scale. Patients in the intervention group recovered (i.e. were asymptomatic) at a mean of 13 days versus 17 days for controls. Other studies with the same participants showed that males reached symptom exacerbation threshold at a slightly lower heart rate than females but “…the BCTT provides comparable information and both sexes reach symptom exacerbation at similar (changes in heart rate).” They have also found similar outcomes for use of a treadmill ver...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news