Nature as Medicine for the Healing Brain: Utilization of a Nature-based Exposure Intervention for Decreasing Concussion Recovery Timeline and Symptom Load
1 other identifier
interventional
24
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The overall goal of this research is to provide pilot data that informs and drives a larger scale research project, incorporating multiple contemporary measurement modalities, to understand the utility and pathological mechanisms by which exposure to nature-based settings may aid in recovery time and symptom relief of individuals suffering from concussion, and decrease their risk of developing Persistent Post-Concussion Syndrome (PPCS). We hypothesize that successful adherence to a nature-based exposure therapy intervention program will decrease recovery time and severity of symptom trajectory of concussion, as measured through multimodal assessments of brain structural and functional integrity.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at below P25 for not_applicable
Started Jul 2026
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
April 8, 2026
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
June 11, 2026
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
July 1, 2026
ExpectedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
August 1, 2027
Study Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
August 1, 2027
June 11, 2026
June 1, 2026
1.1 years
April 8, 2026
June 9, 2026
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Concussion Symptoms Scales
All participants will complete daily Post-Concussion Symptom Scale surveys, offering self-report quantifiable measures of concussion recovery.
Daily, for the duration of the 28 day study
Secondary Outcomes (6)
Stroop Task
On day 1 (visit 1) and day 28 (visit 2) of the 28 day study.
Oral Digit Symbol Modalities Task
On day 1 (visit 1) and day 28 (visit 2) of the 28 day study.
Beck's Depression Inventory
On day 1 (visit 1) and day 28 (visit 2) of the 28 day study.
Hamilton Anxiety Scale
On day 1 (visit 1) and day 28 (visit 2) of the 28 day study.
Neuroinflammatory Biomarker Concentration
On day 1 (visit 1) and day 28 (visit 2) of the 28 day study.
- +1 more secondary outcomes
Study Arms (3)
Nature-based Guided Awareness Group
EXPERIMENTALParticipants in the nature-based guided awareness group will be instructed to perform their intervention prompt in a one of the safe, accessible natural settings provided on the study's Nature-Based Location Guide, 3-7 times per week, for a total duration of 120 minutes per week.
Standard Guided Awareness Group
EXPERIMENTALParticipants in the standard guided awareness group will be instructed to perform the prompt in a quiet, controlled indoor environment, 3-7 times per week, for a total duration of 120 minutes per week.
No Intervention Group
NO INTERVENTIONThe No Intervention Group will proceed with their standard clinical care instructions for concussion recovery as provided by their health care professional.
Interventions
Participants in the nature-based guided awareness group will be instructed to perform their intervention prompt in a one of the safe, accessible natural settings provided on the study's Nature-Based Location Guide, 3-7 times per week, for a total duration of 120 minutes per week.
Participants in the standard guided awareness group will be instructed to perform the prompt in a quiet, controlled indoor environment, 3-7 times per week, for a total duration of 120 minutes per week.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Require that any participant is 14-35 years old
- Required that any participant under 18 years old can be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for the duration of the study
- Required that participants be English speakers
- Required that persons be able to provide consent for themselves
- Required that the participant must have suffered a clinically diagnoses concussion 5 days or less prior to the first study visit
- Concussion must have been diagnosed by a licensed clinical medicine professional.
- No additional professional treatment modalities outside of normal clinical concussion recovery recommendations may have been received prior to study participation. These include participation in a separate concussion rehabilitation study, cognitive behavioral therapies, vestibule-ocular therapies (balance), in-patient physical therapy, consumption of stimulant medication, and chiropractic manipulation.
- Injury must have been diagnosed as a concussion or mild-traumatic brain injury. Participant must not have been diagnosed with of severe traumatic brain injury, hematoma, fractured skull or facial bones, or comatose.
You may not qualify if:
- Exclude persons under 14 years old or over 35 years old
- Exclude persons taking anti-inflammatory drugs (both prescription and OTC), or those who will have taken them within 24 hours prior to Visit 1
- Exclude smokers and former smokers, as defined by CDC. (Anyone who smokes daily or who has smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime)
- Those with presence of an active infection (including a dental infection)
- Exclude persons who have migraines
- Exclude persons taking mood stabilizer medications
- Exclude persons who are pregnant.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Recreation Building
University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States
Related Publications (4)
Leao ER, Savieto RM, Borba GB, da Silva Victor E, Bomfim SB, Hingst-Zaher E, Lima LM, Longo LGR, de Oliveira LB, Noguchi DT, Oliveira LPG, Moredo RF, Santos CO, Menini A, Bass LM, Patricio KP, Catissi G, Rosa JM, Soldado EBR, Bertini F, de Barros CG, Kiriyama EJ. Efficacy of a multicomponent nature-based intervention on well-being and environmental engagement: A randomized clinical trial. Environ Int. 2025 Feb;196:109286. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109286. Epub 2025 Jan 19.
PMID: 39874898BACKGROUNDLeao ER, Hingst-Zaher E, Savieto RM, Patricio KP, de Oliveira LB, Catissi G, Lima LM, Borba GB, Bomfim SB, de Abreu FB. A time with e-Natureza (e-Nature): a model of nature-based health interventions as a complex adaptive system. Front Psychol. 2023 Aug 22;14:1226197. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1226197. eCollection 2023.
PMID: 37674757BACKGROUNDGay M, Ray W, Johnson B, Teel E, Geronimo A, Slobounov S. Feasibility of EEG Measures in Conjunction With Light Exercise for Return-to-Play Evaluation After Sports-Related Concussion. Dev Neuropsychol. 2015;40(4):248-53. doi: 10.1080/87565641.2015.1014486.
PMID: 26179490BACKGROUNDCorazon SS, Olsen LJ, Kaereby N, Poulsen DV, Sidenius U, Bekke-Hansen S, Marschner L. Nature-Based Therapeutic Intervention for Individuals with Post-Concussion Symptoms. Behav Sci (Basel). 2024 Jul 12;14(7):594. doi: 10.3390/bs14070594.
PMID: 39062417BACKGROUND
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Assistant Teaching Professor
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
April 8, 2026
First Posted
June 11, 2026
Study Start (Estimated)
July 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
August 1, 2027
Study Completion (Estimated)
August 1, 2027
Last Updated
June 11, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-06