Sex Differences in the Treatment Effect of Targeted Heart Rate Aerobic Exercise in Adolescents with Acute Sport-Related Concussion.
Elizabeth V Castro, Haley M Chizuk, John J Leddy et al.
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In 30 seconds
This reanalysis of two randomized controlled trials examined whether sex modified recovery after targeted heart-rate aerobic exercise versus stretching in adolescents with acute sport-related concussion. Recovery times did not differ significantly between males and females overall. In sex-stratified analyses, males assigned aerobic exercise recovered 6 days faster than males assigned stretching in the first trial and 8 days faster in the second; corresponding 3-day differences among females were not statistically significant. The findings suggest a possible sex-related difference in treatment response, but the authors call for adequately powered studies.
Key findings
- In the first trial, males assigned aerobic exercise recovered 6 days faster than those assigned stretching (p = 0.004).
- In the second trial, males assigned aerobic exercise recovered 8 days faster than those assigned stretching (p = 0.020).
- Among females, the 3-day recovery differences between aerobic exercise and stretching were not significant in either trial (p = 0.564 and p = 0.587).
- Recovery times did not differ significantly between males and females in either trial, regardless of intervention.
Why it matters
The results raise the possibility that adolescent males and females may not respond identically to prescribed aerobic exercise after sport-related concussion. Recognising this potential variability is relevant when interpreting trial evidence and designing future studies, while the nonsignificant findings in females mean the apparent difference should not be treated as established.
What to keep in mind
This was a reanalysis of prior trials, and the authors state that future adequately powered studies are needed to account for variability between sexes.