A-25 Transcranial Photobiomodulation Treatment Effects In Former Athletes With Repetitive Head Hits

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: Psychiatric symptoms, sleep disruption, reaction time, and fine motor coordination are associated with repetitive head hits. Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) has been proposed as a non-invasive treatment for post-head injury symptoms. This proof-of-concept study begins to address tPBM’s potential utility in the neurorehabilitation of athletes with repetitive head hits. Methods: Study participants included 49 former male and female athletes (Mage = 45.90 years; SD = 14.45) with a history of repetitive head hits. Inclusion criteria were: aged 18–65 years and a self-reported history of concussive and/or repetitive sub-concussive events. We conducted a non-randomized study design wherein participants received active tPBM treatment for 8 weeks. At pre- and post-treatment timepoints, self-report questionnaires for depression (CES-D), posttraumatic stress (PCL-5), adjustment (MPAI-4), and sleep quality (PSQI) were obtained, as were assessments of simple reaction time, grip strength, and hand dexterity (Grooved Pegboard). Paired t-tests analyzed pre- and post-treatment effects. Results: Following tPBM treatment, study participants demonstrated statistically significant reductions in self-reported depression (t = 4.54, p < 0.001, d = 0.75), posttraumatic stress (t = 3.43, p < 0.001, d = 0.54), and adjustment (t = 5.23, p < 0.001, d = 0.83) symptoms compared to pre-treatment levels. Sleep quality (t = 3.72, p < 0.001, d = 0.57), simple reaction time (t = 4.57, p < 0.001, d = 0.73), dominant hand grip strength (t = 2.59, p = 0.013, d = 0.41), and nondominant hand grip strength (t = 4.18, p < 0.001, d = 67) improved following tPBM treatment. Bilateral hand dexterity did not significantly change following treatment. Conclusions: Results suggest that tPBM may reduce psychiatric symptoms and improve sleep quality, simple reaction time, and grip strength among former athletes with repetitive head hits. These data support future research on the potential neurorehabilitative effects of tPBM.