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Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI)NCT07599475

Mobile Dual-Task Brain and Balance Intervention for Concussion Recovery

A study testing Home-Based Mobile Dual-Task Intervention (BraW-Day™) in people with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) and Sports-related Concussion, run by Hyunhwa Lee at 1 site in United States.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This research study examines recovery after a sports-related concussion or mild head injury. Many athletes experience lingering problems with thinking, balance, and mood months after a concussion. We are testing a new home-based program called BraW-Day™ (Brain \& Walk Exercise Every Day). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 40 years
What is being tested?
Home-Based Mobile Dual-Task Intervention (BraW-Day™)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
20 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
15 May 2026to 30 Apr 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 40 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Adults aged 18 to 40 years
  • Self-reported history of sports-related concussion (SRC) or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) within the past 3 to 12 months
  • Meets criteria for mTBI based on a standardized screening method (e.g., Ohio State University TBI Identification Method)
  • Able to safely participate in light physical activity (e.g., walking) and simple cognitive tasks based on self-report and observational screening by the research team
  • Able to read and understand English (if applicable for study materials)
  • Able to provide informed consent
  • Has access to and is able to use a smartphone or mobile device to complete daily app-based activities

Who cannot join

  • Age younger than 18 years or older than 40 years
  • History of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury
  • Concussion or mTBI occurring less than 3 months or more than 12 months prior to enrollment
  • Self-reported active medical disease or history of neurological or psychiatric conditions unrelated to concussion
  • Self-reported other medical conditions that would limit safe participation in light physical activity (e.g., walking or balance tasks)
  • Currently on prescribed medications that may significantly affect cognitive function, balance, neurological function, or safe participation in light physical activity
  • Inability to use a smartphone or mobile device required for study participation
  • Inability to read or understand English (as study materials and the mobile application are currently available only in English)

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Hyunhwa Lee, PhD, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC contact

702-895-3492

hyunhwa.lee@unlv.edu

United States1 site
  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas

    Las Vegas, Nevada, 89154-3018

    Hyunhwa Lee, PhD, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, 702-895-3492, hyunhwa.lee@unlv.edu

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Boosting Brain and Balance: A Mobile Dual-Task Intervention for Athletes With Concussion and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI)

This research study examines recovery after a sports-related concussion or mild head injury. Many athletes experience lingering problems with thinking, balance, and mood months after a concussion.

We are testing a new home-based program called BraW-Day™ (Brain \& Walk Exercise Every Day). This 14-day program uses a mobile app on your smartphone and combines simple brain exercises (like counting backwards) with walking exercises. The idea is that doing these tasks together may help your brain and body recover more effectively.

Read more

What You'll Do:

  • Two in-person visits at UNLV (baseline and after 14 days) for assessments
  • Daily 15-minute exercises at home using the BraW-Day app
  • Provide a small saliva sample for biomarker testing
  • Complete brief questionnaires about your symptoms and health

Potential Benefits:

You may experience improvements in thinking, balance, or mood. Even if you don't benefit directly, your participation will help researchers understand how to better support athletes recovering from concussion.

Who Can Join:

  • Ages 18-40
  • Had a sports-related concussion or mild head injury within the past 3-12 months
  • Have a smartphone and can safely do light walking and simple tasks

This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov and approved by the UNLV Institutional Review Board to protect your safety and rights.

Read the detailed description

Background and Rationale:

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and sports-related concussion affect thousands of athletes annually and often result in persistent cognitive, physical, and physiological symptoms that can extend months beyond the initial injury. Current recovery protocols typically focus on single-domain interventions (cognitive training alone or physical rehabilitation alone). Emerging evidence suggests that integrated, dual-task interventions-combining cognitive and physical exercise simultaneously-may enhance neuroplasticity and accelerate functional recovery by engaging multiple neural systems.

Study Rationale:

This feasibility study evaluates a novel mobile dual-task intervention (BraW-Day™) designed specifically for athletes recovering from mTBI/concussion. The intervention combines cognitive challenges with structured walking exercises, administered through a smartphone application for accessibility and adherence. We hypothesize that this integrated approach will improve cognitive function, physical balance, and physiological markers (heart rate variability) while demonstrating feasibility for home-based, technology-enabled delivery.

Intervention Description:

BraW-Day™ is a 14-day home-based mobile app intervention combining:

  • Walking exercises: Progressive heel-to-toe walking and figure-8 walking patterns
  • Cognitive tasks: Five-minute brain exercises (number counting, working memory tasks) performed concurrently with walking
  • Optional breathing exercises for relaxation and sleep support
  • Daily reminders and progression tracking via the Uplode mobile application

Each session is 15 minutes and performed daily for 14 consecutive days. The app provides real-time feedback and allows users to pause or adjust intensity as needed.

Study Design:

This is a single-arm feasibility study with pre-post assessment design. Participants complete two in-person study visits (baseline and post-intervention) separated by 14 days of home-based intervention.

Assessments:

  • Cognitive function: Neuro-QoL cognitive assessment
  • Lifetime trauma history: PhenX Lifetime Trauma and Victimization History Instrument
  • Physiological markers: Heart rate variability (HRV) measured via wearable sensors
  • Physical function: Eye-tracking (EyeLink) for oculomotor control; walking assessment using mobile sensors for movement analysis
  • Symptom severity: Ohio State University TBI Identification Interview, Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire, Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory
  • Biological markers: Saliva collection for exosomal microRNA analysis to assess recovery at the molecular level
  • User experience: Semi-structured interview regarding intervention feasibility, acceptability, and perceived benefits

Primary Outcomes:

Feasibility metrics including recruitment rate, retention rate (completion of 14-day intervention), adherence to daily exercises, and safety.

Secondary Outcomes:

Changes in cognitive function, symptom severity, balance/gait, heart rate variability, and biomarker expression from baseline to post-intervention. User feedback on intervention acceptability and recommendations for future implementation.

Population:

Athletes aged 18-40 who sustained a sports-related concussion or mild TBI within 3-12 months prior to enrollment. Participants must be able to safely perform light physical activity and have consistent smartphone access.

Study Duration:

2 weeks of active intervention per participant; approximately 6.5-7 hours total time commitment.

Significance:

This study addresses a critical gap in mTBI recovery by evaluating an accessible, scalable intervention that integrates cognitive and physical rehabilitation. If feasible and effective, BraW-Day™ could provide athletes with an evidence-based home-based tool to optimize recovery and reduce persistent post-concussion symptoms.

Being tested
Home-Based Mobile Dual-Task Intervention (BraW-Day™)
Keywords
dual-task, mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), sports-related concussion, BraW-Day
Medical subject headings
Brain Concussion

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Home-Based Mobile Dual-Task Intervention (BraW-Day™)Behavioural

    Participants engage in a 14-day home-based mobile dual-task intervention using the Uplode smartphone application. Each daily session lasts 15 minutes and combines two concurrent components: (1) Walking exercises-progressive heel-to-toe walking alternating with figure-8 walking patterns; and (2) Cognitive tasks-five-minute brain exercises (e.g., counting backwards, working memory challenges) performed simultaneously with walking. On Day 8, cognitive task difficulty increases to provide progressive challenge. The app delivers daily reminders, tracks completion, and provides real-time feedback. Optional guided breathing exercises (5-10 minutes) are available for relaxation and sleep support. Participants self-pace the exercises and can pause the app if needed. The intervention is designed to engage multiple neural systems (motor and cognitive) simultaneously to enhance neuroplasticity and facilitate recovery from concussion/mild traumatic brain injury.

Study groups in NCT07599475
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
14-Day BraW-Day™ InterventionExperimentalParticipants receive a 14-day home-based mobile dual-task intervention (BraW-Day™) delivered via the Uplode smartphone application. The intervention combines daily 15-minute sessions of heel-to-toe and figure-8 walking with concurrent cognitive tasks (e.g., counting backwards, working memory exercises). Cognitive task difficulty increases on Day 8. Optional guided breathing exercises are available via the app. Participants complete assessments at baseline (Day 0) and post-intervention (Day 15).
Receives: Behavioral: Home-Based Mobile Dual-Task Intervention (BraW-Day™)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Feasibility and Acceptability of BraW-Day™ Intervention

    Semi-structured interview (max 20 minutes) assessing acceptability, feasibility, usability, and barriers/facilitators for the BraW-Day™ exercise program on the Uplode app. System Usability Scale (0-100 scale; higher scores indicate better acceptability).

    Measured: Day 15

  2. Change in Cognitive Function

    Neuro-QOL Cognitive Function Short Form assessing difficulty with memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed (e.g., tracking time, financial document accuracy, following complex instructions). Raw scores converted to T-scores (mean 50, SD 10); higher scores indicate better cognitive function.

    Measured: Day 0 & Day 15

Secondary outcomes (12)
  1. Change in Depression Symptoms

    Neuro-QOL Depression Short Form assessing depressive symptoms. T-scores (mean 50, SD 10); higher scores indicate worse depressive symptoms.

    Measured: Day 0 & Day 15

  2. Change in Anxiety Symptoms

    Neuro-QOL Anxiety Short Form assessing anxiety symptoms. T-scores (mean 50, SD 10); higher scores indicate worse anxiety.

    Measured: Day 0 & Day 15

  3. Change in Fatigue

    Neuro-QOL Fatigue Short Form assessing fatigue severity and impact. T-scores (mean 50, SD 10); higher scores indicate worse fatigue.

    Measured: Day 0 & Day 15

  4. Change in Sleep Disturbance

    Neuro-QOL Sleep Disturbance Short Form assessing sleep quality and disturbance. T-scores (mean 50, SD 10); higher scores indicate worse sleep disturbance.

    Measured: Day 0 & Day 15

  5. Change in Emotional and Behavioral Dyscontrol

    Neuro-QOL Emotional and Behavioral Dyscontrol Short Form assessing emotional regulation and impulsivity. T-scores (mean 50, SD 10); higher scores indicate worse dyscontrol.

    Measured: Day 0 & Day 15

  6. Change in Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities

    Neuro-QOL Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities Short Form assessing functional limitations in social and occupational roles. T-scores (mean 50, SD 10); higher scores indicate better participation.

    Measured: Day 0 & Day 15

  7. Change in Positive Affect and Well-Being

    Neuro-QOL Positive Affect and Well-Being Short Form assessing psychological well-being and positive emotions. T-scores (mean 50, SD 10); higher scores indicate better well-being.

    Measured: Day 0 & Day 15

  8. Change in Stigma

    Neuro-QOL Stigma Short Form assessing felt and internalized stigma related to neurological condition. T-scores (mean 50, SD 10); higher scores indicate greater stigma.

    Measured: Day 0 & Day 15

  9. Change in Sensorimotor Function - Balance and Walking

    mHealth Walking Balance (mHealth-WB) mobile application assessment of walking features and dynamic balance during gait.

    Measured: Day 0 & Day 15

  10. Change in Sensorimotor Function - Eye Tracking

    EyeLink 1000 Plus System (SR Research) rapid eye movement and oculomotor function assessment.

    Measured: Day 0 & Day 15

  11. Change in Heart Rate Variability

    8-minute seated rest recording measuring cardiac autonomic nervous system function. Higher HRV indicates better parasympathetic tone and cardiovascular function.

    Measured: Day 0 & Day 15

  12. Change in Salivary Exosomal microRNA

    Saliva samples (1-2 mL) analyzed for exosomal microRNA biomarkers as indicators of neurodegeneration and functional recovery. Samples stored at -70°C for future characterization.

    Measured: Day 0 & Day 15

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted20 May 2026
  2. Study start15 May 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion30 Apr 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Apr 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
All eligible participants will receive the 14-day BraW-Day™ mobile dual-task intervention. This is a single-arm, pre-post design with assessments at baseline and immediately following the 14-day intervention period. There is no control or comparison group.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
20 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07599475
Sponsor's protocol ID
UNLV-2025-452
Status last verified
May 2026
First submitted
14 May 2026
Last updated
20 May 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: De-identified individual participant data underlying results published from this study will be shared, including: baseline demographic and clinical characteristics; cognitive assessments (Neuro-QOL Cognitive Function); psychosocial measures (depression, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance, emotional dyscontrol, stigma, social participation, well-being); sensorimotor outcomes (gait analysis, balance, eye-tracking); heart rate variability; intervention adherence data; and interview feedback on acceptability and feasibility. Data will be de-identified and shared via secure institutional database or upon researcher request under a data use agreement. Requests should be directed to the Principal Investigator (hyunhwa.lee@unlv.edu). Data will be available beginning six months after publication of primary outcomes through study data retention period (6 years).

Publications

  • Silsupadol P, Shumway-Cook A, Lugade V, van Donkelaar P, Chou LS, Mayr U, Woollacott MH. Effects of single-task versus dual-task training on balance performance in older adults: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2009 Mar;90(3):381-7. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2008.09.559.

    PubMed 19254600
  • McCrea M, Broglio S, McAllister T, Zhou W, Zhao S, Katz B, Kudela M, Harezlak J, Nelson L, Meier T, Marshall SW, Guskiewicz KM; CARE Consortium Investigators. Return to play and risk of repeat concussion in collegiate football players: comparative analysis from the NCAA Concussion Study (1999-2001) and CARE Consortium (2014-2017). Br J Sports Med. 2020 Jan;54(2):102-109. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2019-100579. Epub 2019 Apr 29.

    PubMed 31036562
  • McInnes K, Friesen CL, MacKenzie DE, Westwood DA, Boe SG. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) and chronic cognitive impairment: A scoping review. PLoS One. 2017 Apr 11;12(4):e0174847. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174847. eCollection 2017.

    PubMed 28399158
  • King NS, Crawford S, Wenden FJ, Moss NE, Wade DT. The Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire: a measure of symptoms commonly experienced after head injury and its reliability. J Neurol. 1995 Sep;242(9):587-92. doi: 10.1007/BF00868811.

    PubMed 8551320
  • Hamilton CM, Strader LC, Pratt JG, Maiese D, Hendershot T, Kwok RK, Hammond JA, Huggins W, Jackman D, Pan H, Nettles DS, Beaty TH, Farrer LA, Kraft P, Marazita ML, Ordovas JM, Pato CN, Spitz MR, Wagener D, Williams M, Junkins HA, Harlan WR, Ramos EM, Haines J. The PhenX Toolkit: get the most from your measures. Am J Epidemiol. 2011 Aug 1;174(3):253-60. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwr193. Epub 2011 Jul 11.

    PubMed 21749974
  • Dobson JL, Yarbrough MB, Perez J, Evans K, Buckley T. Sport-related concussion induces transient cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2017 Apr 1;312(4):R575-R584. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00499.2016. Epub 2017 Feb 1.

    PubMed 28148495
  • Corrigan JD, Bogner J. Initial reliability and validity of the Ohio State University TBI Identification Method. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2007 Nov-Dec;22(6):318-29. doi: 10.1097/01.HTR.0000300227.67748.77.

    PubMed 18025964
  • Cella D, Lai JS, Nowinski CJ, Victorson D, Peterman A, Miller D, Bethoux F, Heinemann A, Rubin S, Cavazos JE, Reder AT, Sufit R, Simuni T, Holmes GL, Siderowf A, Wojna V, Bode R, McKinney N, Podrabsky T, Wortman K, Choi S, Gershon R, Rothrock N, Moy C. Neuro-QOL: brief measures of health-related quality of life for clinical research in neurology. Neurology. 2012 Jun 5;78(23):1860-7. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e318258f744. Epub 2012 May 9.

    PubMed 22573626
  • Brett BL, Kerr ZY, Walton SR, Chandran A, Defreese JD, Mannix R, Echemendia RJ, Meehan WP, Guskiewicz KM, McCrea M. Longitudinal trajectory of depression symptom severity and the influence of concussion history and physical function over a 19-year period among former National Football League (NFL) players: an NFL-LONG Study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2022 Mar;93(3):272-279. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-326602. Epub 2021 Oct 18.

    PubMed 34663623

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Home-Based Mobile Dual-Task Intervention (BraW-Day™) in people with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) and Sports-related Concussion, run by Hyunhwa Lee at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Hyunhwa Lee, PhD, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC (702-895-3492, hyunhwa.lee@unlv.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Feasibility and Acceptability of BraW-Day™ Intervention (time frame: Day 15). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07599475, which also lists 9 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 May 2026.

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