Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2021
Abstract
Purpose: To describe physical examination (PE) findings of individuals with protracted concussion recovery and evaluate an integrated primitive reflex (PR) disinhibition, vision, and vestibular rehabilitation intervention. Method: Retrospective study of 82 patients with protracted concussion (60.98% female) who received ≥ 2 phases of treatment. Following a baseline PE, patients completed the Post-Concussion Symptom Survey (PCSS), Activities-Based Balance Confidence Questionnaire (ABC), Dizziness Handicap Index (DHI), and Acquired Traumatic Brain Injury (aTBI) Vision Questionnaire. A subset of patients (Group 1), completed a final PE and second questionnaire administration. Descriptive statistics characterized the sample. T-tests and Wilcoxon rank sum tests compared characteristics of Group 1 vs Group 2. Wilcoxon sign rank tests assessed changes in patient-reported outcomes. Results: Patients in Groups 1 (median age=23.5) and 2 (median age=17.5) were similar regarding demographic and PE findings. Statistically and clinically significant improvements were seen for Group 1: PCSS (-21 points, MCID 6.8), DHI (-27 points, MDC 17.8, MCID 19), ABC (+ 8.5 points, MDC 9) and aTBI Vision Questionnaire (-16.5 points). Conclusion: Patients with protracted concussion recovery can benefit from a multitude of interventions ranging from orthopedic to vision and vestibular interventions in order to address objective deficits and subjective complaints such as headache, dizziness, or blurry vision following a concussion. Patients who completed the full intervention demonstrated clinically significant improvements in function, including return to school/work and recreational activities. These data suggest there is a potential positive benefit to a structured, integrative concussion rehabilitation approach for individuals with protracted concussion recovery.
Recommended Citation
Ziaks, L., Brown, C., & Iversen, M. (2021). Physical examination findings in patients with protracted concussion and the Impact of an integrative concussion rehabilitation protocol. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice (IJAHSP), 19(1), Article 6.
Publication
The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice
Volume
19
Issue
1
Publisher
College of Health Care Sciences at NSUWorks
Pages
Article 6
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Comments
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