Latest Research

Harmonization will ensure concussion protocols are consistent across the country and are aligned with the best available research. This alignment will helps to ensure that, while concussion protocols can be individualized, each concussion plan and protocol will follow the same core principles.

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Leading Canadian Research

Below is a list of research papers, which explore several topics related to concussion assessment, management and prevention. All studies included within this list were authored (or co-authored) by Canadian researchers or practitioners within the last 5 years. For more references to explore consider looking at the reference lists within our concussion literature reviews or contact us at research@sirc.ca.

Efficacy of Melatonin for sleep disturbance in children with persistent post-concussion symptoms: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.
Barlow, K. M., Kirk, V., Brooks, B., Esser, M. J., Yeates, K. O., Zemek, R., Kirton, A., Mikrogianakis, A., MacMaster, F., Nettel-Aguirre, A., Hutchinson, J., Turley, B., Cameron, C., Hill, M., Boyd, R. & Dewey, D. 2021

Psychological aspects of sport-related concussion: An evidence-based position paper.
Bloom, G. A., Trbovich, A. M., Caron, J. G., & Kontos, A. P.
2020

Mouthguard use in youth ice hockey and the risk of concussion: Nested case–control study of 315 cases.
Chisholm, D. A., Black, A. M., Palacios-Derflingher, L., Eliason, P. H., Schneider, K. J., Emery, C. A., & Hagel, B. E.
2020

Brain function associated with reaction time after sport-related concussion.
Churchill, N. W., Hutchison, M. G., Graham, S. J., & Schweizer, T. A.
2020

Diagnosing and managing paediatric concussion: Key recommendations for general paediatricians and family doctors.
Dawson, J., Reed, N., Bauman, S., Seguin, R., & Zemek, R.
2021

Early targeted heart rate aerobic exercise for sport-related concussion.
Emery, C. A., & Smirl, J.
2021

Body checking in non-elite adolescent ice hockey leagues: It is never too late for policy change aiming to protect the health of adolescents.
Emery, C.A., Eliason, P., Warriyar, V., Palacios-Derflingher, L., Black, A.M., Krolikowski, M., Spencer, N., Sick, S., Kozak, S., Schneider, K.J., & Babul, S.
2021

Mood-related changes in children and adolescents with persistent concussion symptoms following a six-week active rehabilitation program.
Greenspoon, D., Gauvin-Lepage, J., Gagnon, I., Reed, N., & Scratch, S.
2020

Concussion in Para sport.
Kissick, J., & Webborn, N.
2018

Early targeted heart rate aerobic exercise versus placebo stretching for sport-related concussion in adolescents: A randomised controlled trial.
Leddy, J.J., Master, C.L., Mannix, R., Wiebe, D. J., Grady, M. F., Meehan, W.P., Storey, E.P., Vernau, B.T., Brown, N.J., Hunt, D., Mohammed, F., Mallon, A., Rownd, K., Arbogast, K.B., Cunningham, A., Haider, M.N., Mayer, A.R. & Willer, B. S.
2021

Is early activity resumption after paediatric concussion safe and does it reduce symptom burden at 2 weeks post injury? The Pediatric Concussion Assessment of Rest and Exertion (PedCARE) multicentre randomised clinical trial.
Ledoux, A. A., Barrowman, N., Bijelić, V., Borghese, M. M., Davis, A., Reid, S., Sangha, G., Yeates, K.O., Tremblay, M.S., McGahern C., Belanger, K., Barnes, J.D., Farion, K.J., DeMatteo, C.A., Reed, N., & Zemek, R.
2021

324 Lifetime prevalence and one-year incidence of sport-related concussion in adolescents.
McCallum, J., Emery, C., Eliason, P.H., Schneider, K., & Black, A.M.
2021

Sex & gender considerations in concussion research.
Mollayeva, T., El-Khechen-Richandi, G., & Colantonio, A.
2018

Delayed symptom onset following pediatric sport-related concussion.
Olson, A., Ellis, M. J., Selci, E., & Russell, K.
2020

Under-reporting of sport-related concussions by adolescent athletes: A systematic review.
Pennock, K.F., McKenzie, B., Steacy, L.M., & Mainwaring, L.
2020

Examining how time from sport-related concussion to initial assessment predicts return-to-play clearance.
Pratile, T., Marshall, C., & DeMatteo, C.
2021

Primary prevention of sport-related concussion in youth ice hockey: A pilot randomized controlled trial.
Schneider, K., Eliason, P., van Rassel, C., Sick, S., Miurz, L., Schneider, G., & Emery, C.
2021

Adapting the dynamic, recursive model of sport injury to concussion: An individualized approach to concussion prevention, detection, assessment, and treatment.
Schneider, K.J., Emery, C.A., Black, A., Yeates, K.O., Debert, C.T., Lun, V., & Meeuwisse, W.H.
2019

Injuries and concussions in female high school rugby: Prevention is worth a try.
Shill, I. J., West, S. W., Sick, S., Schneider, K., Hagel, B. E., Pasanen, K., Wiley, J. P., Emery, C. A., & Black, A. M.
2021

Sensitivity and specificity of a multimodal approach for concussion assessment in youth athletes.
Toong, T., Wilson, K. E., Hunt, A. W., Scratch, S., DeMatteo, C., & Reed, N.
2021

Sex-based differences in symptoms with mouthguard use following pediatric sport-related concussion.
van Ierssel, J., Ledoux, A. A., Tang, K., & Zemek, R.
2021

What is the risk of recurrent concussion in children and adolescents aged 5–18 years? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
van Ierssel, J., Osmond, M., Hamid, J., Sampson, M., & Zemek, R.
2021

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Changing the Game with Data

Concussions in High Performance Sport

Suzanne Leclerc MD, Ph.D. Dip. Med. Sport, Chief Medical Officer, Institut national du sport du Québec

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Sex and Gender Differences in Concussions

Reema Shafi, PhD, OT Reg. (Ont.), University of Toronto

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Peer-to-Peer Education Model in Sport and Special Olympics Collaboration

Nick Reed, PhD, MScOT, OT Reg. (Ont.), University of Toronto

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Concussion Care without Borders

Michael Ellis BSc, MD, FRCSC, University of Manitoba