NATA Foundation Student Writing Contest 2026 — Award Reflection
Honored to have received the Best Summary Evidence Research award at the 2026 NATA Foundation Student Writing Contest for my critically appraised topic on sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise for adolescents with PPCS.
Key Finding
Synthesizing evidence from 7 qualifying studies, sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise consistently improved symptom severity and exercise tolerance in adolescents with persistent post-concussion symptoms (≥28 days post-injury). The evidence supports an individualized, heart-rate-guided exercise prescription over strict rest protocols.
What’s Next
This work forms the clinical foundation for a larger Bayesian systematic review and meta-analysis currently in progress. The meta-analysis will quantify pooled effect sizes across exercise intervention studies using hierarchical Bayesian models (brms/Stan), providing stronger inferential support for clinical guidelines.
Stay tuned for updates on the PPCS-SR page.