Exercise, Neck Strength, and Sport-Related Concussion: What a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Found

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who work with contact and collision sport athletes, in schools, clubs, colleges, or outpatient sports settings, and who are asked about neck strengthening and concussion prevention.

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in sports, orthopedic, school-based, and general outpatient practice, plus athletic training and strength staff who collaborate with them.

Intended audience

Physical Therapy

Level

Intermediate

Delivery format

Online, asynchronous, self-paced course: interactive reading with audio or video, and a scored post-test.

Based on

This course reports the findings of a single systematic review and meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Every finding, figure, and conclusion described in the course comes from that paper.

Ivanic B, Cronström A, Johansson K, Ageberg E. Efficacy of exercise interventions on prevention of sport-related concussion and related outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2024;58(23):1441-1451. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2024-108260. PMID: 39242177. PMCID: PMC11672061.

PROSPERO registration number CRD42023435033.

Scope note

The course does not add claims from other literature. Where the review described uncertainty, the course reports that uncertainty rather than resolving it.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Describe what the review reported for neuromuscular warm-up programs on sport-related concussion rates and for resistance training on linear and rotational head accelerations.
2. State what the review reported for resistance training on isometric neck strength, and name the group of athletes who made up nearly all of the participants studied.
3. Explain what the authors concluded about how completely the exercise interventions were reported and what they said this means for replicating the programs.

1. Start Here: course overview, objectives, and how to earn credit
2. Podcast: Neck Strength, Head Impacts, and What the Evidence Actually Shows (about eight minutes)
3. Why Neck Strength Entered the Concussion Prevention Conversation
4. How the Review Was Built: Searches, Eligibility, and Quality Checks
5. What the Pooled Results Showed: Concussion Rates, Head Accelerations, and Neck Strength
6. Reporting Gaps and Other Limits on Confidence
7. What This Could Mean in Sports Rehabilitation Settings
8. Key Takeaways
9. Post-test and course evaluation

Quinn Millington, PT, DPT, ECS is the instructor of record: the licensed clinician who reviewed this course and signed off on it. The name and credentials print on the certificate.

Disclosures. This course was developed by The ConEd Solution, which has a financial interest in its sale. No outside funding or sponsorship was received. The instructor of record has no affiliation with the authors of the source publication or their institutions.

This course awards 0.5 contact hours (30 min). How you earn them:

1. Complete the course. Every lesson, in order.
2. Pass the post-test. Score 80% or higher. Retakes are allowed.
3. Complete the evaluation. A short form rating each learning objective and the course.
4. Download your certificate. It is issued on completion and stays available in My Account.

The episode time is its measured length. Reading, post-test and evaluation times are estimates.

This course is designed to satisfy the quality requirements state boards set for continuing education. Requirements vary by state, and confirming that a course fits your renewal is up to you. Each state’s own acceptance statement is in the credit panel on this page.

1. This course reports the findings of a single systematic review and meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Every finding, figure, and conclusion described in the course comes from that paper.
2. Ivanic B, Cronström A, Johansson K, Ageberg E. Efficacy of exercise interventions on prevention of sport-related concussion and related outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2024;58(23):1441-1451. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2024-108260. PMID: 39242177. PMCID: PMC11672061.
3. PROSPERO registration number CRD42023435033.
4. Scope note
5. The course does not add claims from other literature. Where the review described uncertainty, the course reports that uncertainty rather than resolving it.