Looking Beyond the Treadmill: Dynamic Exercise for Smarter Return-to-play Decisions for Adolescents After Sport-related Concussion 1930

Thursday, October 30, 2025

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Location: ROOM: Conference Room 4E >>> DIRECTIONS Fourth Floor >>> From the Main Elevator Bank, proceed left. Room 4E is to the left just past the Pullman Boardroom.

Corresponding Presenter(s)

Kayla Covert, n/a (she/her/hers)

Research Scientist
Baylor Scott & White Research Institute
Dallas, Texas, United States

Slides Slides

Presenter(s)

Morgan O'Neil

Investigator
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Cambridge, MA, United States
Katelyn D. Bosteder, MS, CCRP, ACSM-CEP, EIM III (she/her/hers)

Research Scientist
Baylor Scott & White Research Institute
Frisco, Texas, United States

Non-Presenting Contributor(s)

Simon Driver, PhD (he/him/his)

Chief Scientific Officer
Baylor Scott and White Research Institute
Dallas, Texas, United States

Traditional aerobic exercise has long been a cornerstone of concussion rehabilitation, but dynamic exercise—functional, multi-system movement that mimics real-life demands—may offer untapped potential for more effective recovery. This session challenges the status quo, comparing the roles of traditional and dynamic exercise in adolescent concussion care.

Attendees will explore the limitations of current return-to-play (RTP) protocols, particularly around symptom provocation and submaximal testing, and evaluate how dynamic movement strategies can improve both assessment and treatment. Through case examples and evidence-informed practices, the session will highlight how dynamic exercise can reveal hidden deficits, better guide progression, and reduce the risk of premature return to activity.

Participants will leave equipped with practical tools to apply evidence-based exercise progressions that integrate dynamic training, enhancing clinical decision-making and supporting safer, individualized recovery for youth athletes.

Learning Objectives:

Compare the role of dynamic exercise versus traditional aerobic exercise in concussion recovery, identifying key differences and potential benefits in concussion care plans.
Evaluate the effectiveness of current return-to-play (RTP) protocols, including symptom provocation during dynamic exercise, and propose improvements to better assess and treat adolescents during recovery.
Apply evidence-based recommendations for integrating dynamic exercise into concussion treatment plans, developing appropriate exercise progression strategies to enhance recovery and reduce premature RTP decisions.