A recent study by Matthew Smith et al., published in The Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine (https://journals.lww.com/cjsportsmed/fulltext/2024/05000/reduced_concussion_symptom_burden_in_early.1.aspx), researchers found that providing selective head aand neck cooling after mild brain injury reduced Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT5) symptom scores by 14% after initial treatment with cooling. After a second treatment using the cooling treatment, SCAT5 scores were 25% lower than those receiving standard concussion care.
“Traditionally, ice has been used to reduce pain and swelling in muscle injuries,” said Dr. Joseph Congeni, director of sports medicine at Akron Children’s and lead study investigator at Akron Children's Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute.” Now, this research — along with our previously published study using head and neck cooling — has found the same to be true for concussions.
Sports-related concussions present a substantial challenge for children aged 12 to 17 in the U.S. While adults typically recover from concussion symptoms within seven to ten days, adolescents face a more prolonged recovery period, with about 80%–90% of symptoms persisting for 17 to 28 days.
Despite ongoing efforts to prevent concussions, traditional treatment has remained largely unchanged. Historically, managing adolescent concussions has centered on brain rest—a period of avoiding demanding physical and mental activities until symptoms subside. However, a significant shift in this approach is emerging.
"We know from what we see on athletic fields and the feedback we receive from parents and kids that brain rest isn't enough," states Dr. Joseph Congeni, a lead investigator in new concussion research. "The results of this study show the standard of concussion care can be improved upon." This highlights a pivotal moment where, alongside conventional brain rest, selective hypothermic therapy is now being explored as a viable and effective treatment for concussion symptoms in this vulnerable population.
Coolgards has engineered a targeted cooling solution designed to significantly enhance concussion recovery.
