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2026, Vol: 10, Issue: 6
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Review Article
Online Published: 26 Jan 2026
 


Quality of care in sports-related concussion management: a systematic review of comparative studies

Osama Saleh Alnafisah, Abdullah Abdulaziz Khojah, Ghada Raja Alharbi, Zainah Nasser Alqahtani, Solyman Abdullah Abdullah, Samiah Ahmed Almehmadi, Khalid Mohammed Alkwai, Faisal Majed Albassam, Wijdan Salem Almatrafi, Bushra Salem Alnahdi.


Abstract
Sports-related concussion (SRC) is a significant public health issue, yet disparities persist in the quality of care delivered. This systematic review evaluated the impact of evidence-based management strategies on recovery outcomes and equity in care for athletes with SRC. A systematic review followed an Electronic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus, from inception to 2025. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized studies involving athletes with SRC that compared evidence-based interventions (e.g., early aerobic exercise, interdisciplinary rehabilitation, provider education) to usual care. Fourteen studies were included. The findings consistently demonstrated that early, active, and targeted interventions were associated with improvements in the quality of SRC care. Initiating sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise within 48 hours post-injury was associated with faster symptom resolution and reduced risk of persistent symptoms compared to no exercise or delayed initiation. For complex cases with persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS), interdisciplinary collaborative care models substantially improved outcomes, including reduced PPCS burden (13% vs. 41.7%), improved quality of life, and reduced suicidal ideation. Targeted physiotherapy (e.g., cervicovestibular rehab) for specific symptom clusters led to significantly higher medical clearance rates (73% vs. 7%). System-level interventions, such as provider education on guidelines and policy changes mandating earlier rehab referral, were critical facilitators, improving knowledge and reducing time to treatment. The quality of SRC care was optimized by a multifaceted approach integrating early activity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and targeted therapies. Successful implementation requires supportive system-level factors like provider education and policy reform to ensure equitable access to high-quality, personalized care.

Key words: Sports-related concussion, early aerobic exercise, interdisciplinary rehabilitation, return to play, persistent post-concussive symptoms, quality of care, systematic review


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Alnafisah OS, Khojah AA, Alharbi GR, Alqahtani ZN, Abdullah SA, Almehmadi SA, Alkwai KM, Albassam FM, Almatrafi WS, Alnahdi BS. Quality of care in sports-related concussion management: a systematic review of comparative studies. IJMDC. Online First: 26 Jan, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1764757938

Web Style

Alnafisah OS, Khojah AA, Alharbi GR, Alqahtani ZN, Abdullah SA, Almehmadi SA, Alkwai KM, Albassam FM, Almatrafi WS, Alnahdi BS. Quality of care in sports-related concussion management: a systematic review of comparative studies. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=301169 [Access: June 22, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1764757938

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Alnafisah OS, Khojah AA, Alharbi GR, Alqahtani ZN, Abdullah SA, Almehmadi SA, Alkwai KM, Albassam FM, Almatrafi WS, Alnahdi BS. Quality of care in sports-related concussion management: a systematic review of comparative studies. IJMDC. Online First: 26 Jan, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1764757938


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Alnafisah OS, Khojah AA, Alharbi GR, Alqahtani ZN, Abdullah SA, Almehmadi SA, Alkwai KM, Albassam FM, Almatrafi WS, Alnahdi BS. Quality of care in sports-related concussion management: a systematic review of comparative studies. IJMDC, [cited June 22, 2026]; Online First: 26 Jan, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1764757938


Harvard Style

Alnafisah, O. S., Khojah, . A. A., Alharbi, . G. R., Alqahtani, . Z. N., Abdullah, . S. A., Almehmadi, . S. A., Alkwai, . K. M., Albassam, . F. M., Almatrafi, . W. S. & Alnahdi, . B. S. (2025) Quality of care in sports-related concussion management: a systematic review of comparative studies. IJMDC, Online First: 26 Jan, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1764757938


Turabian Style

Alnafisah, Osama Saleh, Abdullah Abdulaziz Khojah, Ghada Raja Alharbi, Zainah Nasser Alqahtani, Solyman Abdullah Abdullah, Samiah Ahmed Almehmadi, Khalid Mohammed Alkwai, Faisal Majed Albassam, Wijdan Salem Almatrafi, and Bushra Salem Alnahdi. 2025. Quality of care in sports-related concussion management: a systematic review of comparative studies. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, Online First: 26 Jan, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1764757938


Chicago Style

Alnafisah, Osama Saleh, Abdullah Abdulaziz Khojah, Ghada Raja Alharbi, Zainah Nasser Alqahtani, Solyman Abdullah Abdullah, Samiah Ahmed Almehmadi, Khalid Mohammed Alkwai, Faisal Majed Albassam, Wijdan Salem Almatrafi, and Bushra Salem Alnahdi. "Quality of care in sports-related concussion management: a systematic review of comparative studies." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries Online First: 26 Jan, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1764757938


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Alnafisah, Osama Saleh, Abdullah Abdulaziz Khojah, Ghada Raja Alharbi, Zainah Nasser Alqahtani, Solyman Abdullah Abdullah, Samiah Ahmed Almehmadi, Khalid Mohammed Alkwai, Faisal Majed Albassam, Wijdan Salem Almatrafi, and Bushra Salem Alnahdi. "Quality of care in sports-related concussion management: a systematic review of comparative studies." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries Online First: 26 Jan, 2026. Web. 22 Jun 2026 doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1764757938


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Alnafisah, O. S., Khojah, . A. A., Alharbi, . G. R., Alqahtani, . Z. N., Abdullah, . S. A., Almehmadi, . S. A., Alkwai, . K. M., Albassam, . F. M., Almatrafi, . W. S. & Alnahdi, . B. S. (2025) Quality of care in sports-related concussion management: a systematic review of comparative studies. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, Online First: 26 Jan, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1764757938




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