Description Module
The Description Module contains narrative descriptions of the clinical trial, including a brief summary and detailed description. These descriptions provide important information about the study's purpose, methodology, and key details in language accessible to both researchers and the general public.
Description Module path is as follows:
Study -> Protocol Section -> Description Module
Description Module
Ignite Creation Date:
2025-12-24 @ 11:56 PM
Ignite Modification Date:
2025-12-24 @ 11:56 PM
NCT ID:
NCT03883451
Brief Summary:
The purpose of the study is to monitor longitudinal changes in brain structure and function between the preseason and postseason, in a population of football playing athletes grouped by helmet make and model. Secondly, the purpose is to determine the protection of the helmet make and model relative to amount and magnitude of sustained head impacts.
Detailed Description:
Sports-related traumatic brain injury (sTBI) is common in competitive sports and recreational activities, with 1.6 to 3.8 million reported annually in the U.S. Children, adolescents and young adults are at the highest risk for sustaining mild TBI. There is scarce high-level prospective, objective evidence indicating that any recent helmet design can prevent sTBI. While helmets were developed for, and are effective in, preventing skull fractures and intracranial hematomas, it is unclear if they afford protection against forces inside the cranium.
This study will investigate the relationship between potential changes in brain structure and function pre and post season compared to helmet make and model and head impact exposure in high school and college athletes playing a collision sport such as football. The use of helmets/headgear during such a high-risk sport will allow for collision measurement devices to be affixed to the athlete under the helmet and will not affect play or fit of equipment. By the nature of the sport selected, it is likely this study will primarily include males, however if any female meets inclusion criteria on the team selected, the participant will be included in this investigation. All participants will be outfitted with an accelerometer which will measure the magnitude of every impact to the head sustained by the athlete. Effectiveness of the helmet model will be determined via differences in longitudinal brain imaging and functional testing following competitive football participation. A subset of athletes who report a diagnosed concussion will also receive additional brain neuroanatomical and neurophysiological testing within a week following the diagnosed concussive event. The investigators will also enroll a group of athletes involved in a non-contact sport (such as cross country) to act as controls.
Study:
NCT03883451
Study Brief:
Protocol Section:
NCT03883451