The effect of a home exercise program on visio-vestibular function in concussed pediatric patients

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Pediatric Medicine

Background:

• Visio-vestibular deficits are common after concussion.
• A visio-vestibular home exercise program (VV-HEP) offers a cost-effective and accessible therapy option.
• The effectiveness of VV-HEP on concussion symptoms and visio-vestibular function requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the impact of a VV-HEP on concussion symptoms and visio-vestibular function in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• 527 pediatric patients with concussion were enrolled.
• Patients received a VV-HEP including exercises for saccades, gaze stability, convergence, and balance.
• Outcomes measured included symptom inventory scores, visio-vestibular examination results, and self-reported VV-HEP adherence at follow-up.

Main Results:

• Patients who completed the VV-HEP reported significantly lower symptom endorsement and severity compared to those who did not start or were in progress.
• A lower proportion of patients completing the VV-HEP showed abnormal results in vestibular-ocular reflex, tandem gait, and overall visio-vestibular function scores.
• Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in symptom burden and visio-vestibular function based on VV-HEP completion status.

Conclusions:

• Completion of a VV-HEP is associated with reduced concussion symptom burden and improved visio-vestibular function in pediatric patients.
• VV-HEP demonstrates efficacy in mitigating visio-vestibular dysfunction post-concussion.
• This program holds potential for minimizing healthcare access inequities for concussion recovery.