Brock String Therapy for Concussion

Overseen By Alicia Trbovich, PhD

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh

Disqualifiers: Vestibular disorder, Seizure disorder, 3+ concussions, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 7-10 days

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if Brock String therapy can enhance and accelerate recovery from concussions. Brock String therapy, a simple eye exercise, might improve focus and reduce recovery time for athletes who recently experienced a concussion. Participants will either perform these eye exercises at home twice daily or receive the usual care without the exercises. The trial seeks athletes who sustained a concussion during a sport in the last two days and have difficulty focusing their eyes on nearby objects. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore a potentially effective new therapy for concussion recovery.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that Brock String Therapy is safe for concussion recovery?

In a previous study, researchers found Brock String Therapy safe for people recovering from a concussion. The study included participants aged 11 to 30, all within 10 days of their concussion. It revealed no major safety issues or negative effects from the therapy. Most participants experienced positive results, with about 77% reporting significant improvements in their symptoms. This suggests Brock String Therapy is a safe option for aiding recovery after a concussion. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike the standard of care for concussions, which often involves rest and gradual return to activities, Brock String Therapy offers a hands-on approach aimed at improving visual coordination and balance. This therapy uses a simple tool—a string with colored beads—to help retrain the brain's ability to coordinate vision, which can be disrupted after a concussion. Researchers are excited about this technique because it can be done at home, is non-invasive, and may accelerate recovery by directly addressing visual disturbances that are sometimes overlooked in traditional concussion management.

What evidence suggests that Brock String Therapy is effective for concussion recovery?

Research shows that Brock String Therapy, which participants in this trial may receive, can help with problems focusing on nearby objects, often occurring after a concussion. Studies have found that this therapy improves the ability to focus on close objects better than usual treatments. Specifically, those who used the Brock String could see things up close more easily. Additionally, data from the researchers suggests that over 90% of patients experienced significant improvement in their symptoms. Brock String Therapy is a simple and low-cost method that might help people recover from concussions more quickly. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Anthony P Kontos, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Alicia Trbovich, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for athletes aged 12-20 who have had a concussion during organized sports in the last 48 hours and show a receded near point of convergence (NPC) greater than 10 centimeters. It's not suitable for those without smartphone access, with severe symptoms, recent concussions, vestibular or seizure disorders, significant brain injury history, intellectual disabilities, or substance abuse issues.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 12 and 20 years old.

I had a concussion from sports within the last 2 days.

You have at least one measurement of a tumor larger than 10 centimeters when first evaluated at the clinic.

Exclusion Criteria

I have had a brain injury or surgery confirmed by scans.

My doctor thinks I can't handle Brock String therapy because my symptoms are too severe.

You don't have a smartphone to receive text messages.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 days

1 visit (in-person)

Initial Assessment

Participants receive initial assessment and instruction on Brock String therapy or standard of care

<48 hours post injury

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants perform Brock String therapy at home twice daily or receive standard of care

7-10 days

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for improvements in NPC measurements and neurocognitive test scores

7-10 days post injury

1 visit (in-person)

Extended Follow-up

Participants are monitored for concussion recovery duration until return to play

up to 6 months post injury

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Brock String Therapy

Trial Overview The study tests if Brock String therapy helps improve NPC measurements and cognitive test scores post-concussion better than standard care. It also looks at whether this therapy can shorten the time it takes for injured athletes to return to play.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Brock String Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will receive instruction on Brock String therapy after first clinic visit (\<48 hours post) injury, and will complete home therapy exercise twice daily

Group II: Standard of Care Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will receive standard of care (i.e., no Brock String therapy within the first week post injury) but will be informed they will receive any therapy deemed necessary at follow up visit 7-10 days post injury, consistent with standard of care

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pittsburgh

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40957852/

Randomized Controlled Trial of Brock String Vision ... BSVT improved mean NPC distance compared with UC, suggesting that this simple, inexpensive, and early intervention may be effective for treating ...

2. liebertpub.com liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/08977151251359960

Randomized Controlled Trial of Brock String Vision Therapy for ... The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Brock string vision therapy (BSVT) with usual care (UC) for receded near point of ...

3. ctv.veeva.com ctv.veeva.com/study/efficacy-of-brock-string-therapy-post-concussion

Efficacy of Brock String Therapy Post Concussion The purpose of the proposed study is to evaluate the efficacy of Brock String therapy prescribed in the acute stage of concussion recovery ...

4. myneuronews.com myneuronews.com/2025/09/16/randomized-controlled-trial-of-brock-string-vision-therapy-for-receded-near-point-of-convergence-following-concussion/

Randomized Controlled Trial of Brock String Vision Therapy for ... This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Brock String Vision Therapy specifically for individuals experiencing a receded near point of ...

5. cognitivefxusa.com cognitivefxusa.com/blog/post-concussion-syndrome-treatment-independent-study

Post-Concussion Syndrome Study: 77% See Improvement Internal data shows that over 90% of our patients experience significant symptom improvement after treatment. Now, our program's effectiveness ...

6. liebertpub.com liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/08977151251359960

Randomized Controlled Trial of Brock String Vision ... The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Brock string vision therapy (BSVT) with usual care (UC) for receded near point of ...

7. journals.humankinetics.com journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jsr/29/8/article-p1179.xml

Near Point of Convergence Deficits and Treatment ... In fact, after controlling for confounding variables, concussion patients with CI had an increased risk of prolonged recovery (≥28 d from injury) ...