Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2025
A Multi-Modal Approach to Assessing Recovery in Youth Athletes Following Concussion
Published on: September 25, 2014
Clinical outcomes for various benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) diagnoses in adolescents and young adults
Thomas G Bowman1, Rachel Thibault2, Benjamin M Radack3
1Department of Athletic Training, College of Health Sciences, University of Lynchburg, 1501 Lakeside Dr, Lynchburg VA, 24501, USA.
Objective:
Determine how positive BPPV findings in adolescents and young adults following concussion impacted the total number of treatments required and time until discharge.
Setting:
Outpatient physical therapy clinic.
Participants:
167 individuals who were diagnosed with concussion or brain injury.
Design:
Retrospective chart review.
Main Measures:
Total number of treatments and days until discharge were compared for various BPPV diagnoses (anterior canal, posterior canal, horizontal canal, and combination) and for individuals with and without BPPV.
Results:
Fifty-one out of 167 cases (30.54%) were diagnosed with BPPV. The total number of treatments provided was statistically different across BPPV diagnoses (P = .004). However, days until discharge were not statistically different between BPPV diagnoses (P = .28). There was no significant difference between time to discharge between those with BPPV (median = 21 days, range = 7-126) and those without (median = 28 days, range = 7-84 days; P = .23, r = 0.09).
Conclusion:
To optimize outcomes, including symptom resolution and return to sport and/or work, early identification of BPPV and subsequent intervention should be prioritized for individuals who have concussion symptoms that suggest vestibular dysfunction.
