Efficacy of Brock String Therapy Post Concussion

NCT04076657 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: STUDY19070375
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of the proposed study is to evaluate the efficacy of Brock String therapy prescribed in the acute stage of concussion recovery can improve clinical outcomes among patients with receded near point of convergence (NPC). Aim 1: Determine if participants receiving the Brock String have more significant improvements in NPC measurements at follow up 7-10 days post injury. Aim 2: Determine if participants receiving the Brock String 1) improve on computerized neurocognitive test scores from initial visit (\<48 hours post injury) to follow up visit (7-10 days post injury) compared to control participants, and 2) have reduced recovery time (i.e., days from injury until return to play) compared to control participants.

Conditions

Concussion, Brain; Near Point Convergence

Keywords

brock string; sport-concussion; concussion therapy; receded near point of convergence

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Near point of convergence measurement

  change in convergence measurement from nose in centimeters

  from visit 1 (<48 hours post injury) to visit 2 (7-10 days post injury)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT

  from visit 1 (<48 hours post injury) to visit 2 (7-10 days post injury)

• concussion recovery duration

  from day of injury until final clinic visit, determined by concussion symptoms resolving and all aspects of testing within normal limits; expected range 7-10 days to up to 6 months post injury

Study Arms (2)

Brock String

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive instruction on Brock String therapy after first clinic visit (\<48 hours post) injury, and will complete home therapy exercise twice daily

Behavioral: Brock String Therapy

Standard of Care

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will receive standard of care (i.e., no Brock String therapy within the first week post injury) but will be informed they will receive any therapy deemed necessary at follow up visit 7-10 days post injury, consistent with standard of care

Behavioral: Standard of Care

Interventions

Brock String Therapy BEHAVIORAL

Oculomotor exercise to improve binocular vision function

Brock String

Standard of Care BEHAVIORAL

patient engages in normal behavior to manage vision issues, such as breaks with reading and screen use

Standard of Care

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 20 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Athletes who sustained a concussion during organized sport within past 48 hours
• ages 12-20
• at least one NPC measurement \>10 centimeters at initial clinic evaluation.

You may not qualify if:

• lack of access to a smart phone to receive text message prompts
• vestibular disorder
• seizure disorder
• history of traumatic brain injury with imaging findings or brain surgery
• history of 3+ concussions\\
• concussion within the past 6 months
• history of developmental or intellectual disability
• history of substance abuse
• Patients will also be excluded from recruitment if the treating clinician feels the potential participant would be unable to tolerate Brock String therapy due to severe symptoms

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Pittsburgh: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Rooney Sports Complex

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15203, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Trbovich AM, Zynda AJ, Togashi T, Burley C, Mucha A, Collins MW, Kontos AP. Randomized Controlled Trial of Brock String Vision Therapy for Receded Near Point of Convergence Following Concussion. J Neurotrauma. 2025 Oct;42(19-20):1708-1718. doi: 10.1177/08977151251359960. Epub 2025 Sep 16.

  PMID: 40957852 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Brain Concussion

Interventions

Standard of Care

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Brain Injuries; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Craniocerebral Trauma; Trauma, Nervous System; Head Injuries, Closed; Wounds and Injuries; Wounds, Nonpenetrating

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Quality Indicators, Health Care; Quality of Health Care; Health Services Administration; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation

Study Officials

• Alicia Trbovich, PhD

  University of Pittsburgh

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Anthony P Kontos, PhD

  University of Pittsburgh

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: CARE PROVIDER, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Care provider will not be aware of group assignment; participant will be aware of receiving treatment
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 27, 2019
• First Posted: September 3, 2019
• Study Start: November 9, 2020
• Primary Completion: March 19, 2025
• Study Completion: March 19, 2025
• Last Updated: June 5, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)