Clinical Assessment of Sports Exertion (CASE)

February 6, 2026 updated by: Baylor Research Institute

Baylor Scott and White Sports Concussion Program Clinical Assessment of Sports Exertion Research Proposal

The Clinical Assessment for Sports Exertion (CASE) addresses the physical performance of athletes by quantifying physiological and symptomatic responses to dynamic exertion. The CASE is highly sport-specific as it tests multiple body positions that mimic requirements typical of individual and contact sports activities including soccer, gymnastics, cheerleading, swimming, and basketball. It was developed by clinicians at the Baylor Scott and White Sports Concussion Program in an effort to identify specific system impairments in athletes who were unable to successfully demonstrate readiness for return to play protocols. Like the other published forms of concussion exertion testing described above, the CASE is a provocative exercise test that may also prove to be useful in making informed return-to-play decisions based upon the athlete's symptomatology.

Study Overview

Status

Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

125

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Texas
      • Frisco, Texas, United States, 75034
        • Baylor Scott and White Sports Therapy and Research

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

10 years to 22 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 10-22 years of age who have participated in organized sport activities within the past 12 months
  • Diagnosed with a concussion according to international concussion in sport group criteria
  • Asymptomatic at rest and must be cleared from return-to-play by a qualified healthcare professional no later than 30 days following clearance

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Orthopedic or neurologic, or other limitations
  • History of seizures
  • Previous or current diagnoses for cardiopulmonary conditions
  • Medical diagnosis of diabetes and/or currently on medications for diabetes (e.g., insulin)
  • Uncontrolled asthma
  • Pregnancy
  • Currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or < 7 days since last symptoms
  • History of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury defined as a brain injury with an associated Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12 or less
  • Symptom score >1 point on initial PCSS intake
  • A current diagnosis of and treatment with medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disorder, depression, anxiety, or a history of more than 3 prior concussions
  • Limited English proficiency
  • Currently taking prescription medication for concussion related impairments
  • Anticoagulant or antiplatelet use
  • History of a medical condition that mimics the signs and symptoms of prolonged concussion symptoms (eg, history of chronic headaches, active migraines, cardiovascular conditions)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Screening
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: CASE
In this prospective study the investigators aim to quantify participants' responses to physical activity. Participants will be asked to engage in physical activity, to identify any provocation of symptoms in adolescents ranging from ages 10 to 22 years. Responses to physical activity will be measured through physiologic markers (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, rate of perceived exertion, dyspnea). Additionally, participants will be monitored for any changes in symptoms that occur during or after physical activity as measured by the modified PCSS symptom inventory.
Other: CASE
The Clinical Assessment for Sports Exertion (CASE) addresses the physical performance of athletes by quantifying physiological and symptomatic responses to dynamic exertion. It was developed by clinicians at the Baylor Scott and White Sports Concussion Program in an effort to identify specific system impairments in athletes who were unable to successfully demonstrate readiness for return to play protocols.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Heart rate (bpm)
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1.5 hours
Using pulse oximeter placed on index finger heart rate will be recorded.
through study completion, an average of 1.5 hours
Blood pressure (mmHg)
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1.5 hours
Using a manual cuff and auscultation method diastolic and systolic scores will be recorded.
through study completion, an average of 1.5 hours
Oxygen Saturation (%)
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1.5 hours
Using pulse oximeter placed on index finger oxygen saturation will be recorded.
through study completion, an average of 1.5 hours
Rate of Perceived Exertion (Borg 6-20)
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1.5 hours
Using Borg Scale, self report measure of exertion will be recorded. A higher number indicates higher exertion.
through study completion, an average of 1.5 hours
Self-rated lightheadedness (0-6)
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1.5 hours
On a scale of 0-6, a self report measure of lightheadedness will be recorded. A higher number indicates worse lightheadedness.
through study completion, an average of 1.5 hours
Self-rated dyspnea (Modified Borg 0-10)
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1.5 hours
Using Borg scale, self report measure of dyspnea will be recorded. A higher number indicates worse dyspnea.
through study completion, an average of 1.5 hours
Heart rate reserve (peak-rest), beats/min-1
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1.5 hours
Using metabolic cart, heart rate reserve will be recorded via Garmin heart rate strap.
through study completion, an average of 1.5 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Modified Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) (0-6)
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1.5 hours
Using modified PCSS, self report measure of symptoms will be recorded. A high number indicates worse symptoms.
through study completion, an average of 1.5 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Baylor Research Institute

Collaborators

Sports Academy

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 7, 2021

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 4, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 18, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

August 19, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 6, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 021-143

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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