Changes in brain activation measured by functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy associated with continuing to play following sport-related concussion among adolescent athletes

Athletes who continue to play following sport-related concussion (SRC) have worse clinical outcomes compared to those removed from play immediately. This prospective study examined brain activation (i.e., oxygenated hemoglobin concentration [HbO2]), using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), in 20 adolescent athletes who either continued to play (PLAYED) or were immediately removed (REMOVED) following SRC. A linear mixed effects model found the PLAYED group demonstrated an increase of [HbO2] in the left hemisphere at the initial visit (pFDR