A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head that temporarily disrupts brain function. Most people recover within weeks, but a substantial minority develop persistent post-concussion syndrome with headache, cognitive difficulty, fatigue, and mood changes that last months or longer.
What's actually going on in research
Active rehabilitation protocols — rather than the traditional strict rest — are now the preferred approach and are being refined in trials to find the optimal intensity and timing of activity resumption. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and hyperbaric oxygen are being tested for persistent post-concussion symptoms in controlled trials. Blood biomarkers (GFAP, UCH-L1) and advanced brain imaging are being validated to predict who will develop prolonged symptoms, enabling earlier targeted intervention.
Active rehabilitation
Graduated return-to-activity protocols beginning within days of concussion — rather than prolonged rest — are reducing symptom duration in trials and becoming standard management.
Neurostimulation for persistent symptoms
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation are being tested for post-concussion headache, cognitive difficulties, and mood problems.
Blood biomarker prediction
GFAP and UCH-L1 blood tests taken shortly after injury predict symptom severity and recovery duration. Trials are validating these to guide return-to-play decisions and identify patients needing closer monitoring.
What to know before you search
Eligibility requires a recent concussion diagnosis (within defined days for acute trials), specific symptom duration for post-concussion trials, and often absence of prior severe TBI.
What types of trials are currently open
- Rehabilitation trials — Testing activity protocols, exercise timing, and graduated return-to-sport and return-to-school programs.
- Neurostimulation trials — Evaluating rTMS, tDCS, and vagus nerve stimulation for post-concussion syndrome.
- Drug trials — Testing melatonin, omega-3s, and novel neuroprotective drugs for post-concussion symptom management.
- Biomarker trials — Validating blood and imaging biomarkers for prognosis and recovery tracking.
- Prevention trials — Testing helmet technology and rule changes for reducing concussion incidence in contact sports.
Recently added Concussion trials
Impact of a Paced Breathing Exercise Intervention on Autonomic Nervous System Function After Pediatric Concussion (Acute Phase)
The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to assess the feasibility of administering a paced breathing exercise intervention program to children and adolescents in the acute period after concussion, and to document the autonomic function, and symptom severity (post-concussion symptoms, anxiety, sleep) before and after administration of the intervention. Participants will be instructed to perform a daily 10-minutes daily paced breathing home-exercise program and to document the daily exercises performed within a performance log, or receive usual care from the Pediatric Emergency Department. A weekly phone meeting will be performed with all participants to assess recovery progress. Participants randomized to the intervention group will also be asked about their exercises, will be provided specific instructions and adjustments as necessary. All participants (intervention and control group) will undergo a second assessment after four weeks following completion of the intervention program. During the second assessment, information regarding the intervention feasibility, time to return to school, return to sport, and clear from medication will be collected as well.
Recovery Among Older Adults Following Mild TBI
Among fall related injuries in older adults, head injuries are the most common, yet almost nothing is known about recovery from head injury, also known as traumatic brain injury or TBI, in this population. The RETRO-TBI study is a prospective cohort study of 250 adults aged 65 and older with mild TBI to evaluate recovery in cognitive, physical and psychological function and sleep quality at four timepoints (2 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months) over the year following injury and identify factors associated with recovery trajectories. The potential impact of this work is that it will generate new knowledge that will guide targeted treatment efforts and inform future development of strategies to optimize recovery following this common fall-related injury among older adults.
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