Visual and vestibular involvement in postural deficits following concussion

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Postural assessment is a key part of post-concussion evaluation.
• There is a need for reliable, objective methods to track postural deficits and recovery after concussion.
• Existing research offers different perspectives on identifying concussion-related postural impairments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current approaches for identifying and monitoring postural deficits after concussion.
• To highlight the need for objective and reliable assessment tools for concussion recovery.
• To synthesize findings from studies examining balance characteristics and vestibular/oculomotor function post-concussion.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on postural assessment following concussion.
• Analysis of spatiotemporal, frequency, and dynamic balance characteristics.
• Consideration of vestibular and oculomotor assessments for processing deficit identification.

Main Results:

• Concussion effects on postural control can be detected at a group level using balance characteristics.
• Additional vestibular and oculomotor assessments may be necessary to identify individual processing deficits.
• A comprehensive approach combining balance analysis and specific sensory system assessments is suggested.

Conclusions:

• Objective postural assessment is crucial for concussion management and recovery monitoring.
• Integrating various assessment methods may provide a more complete picture of concussion-related impairments.
• Further research is needed to establish definitive, reliable objective measures for individual concussion recovery.