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Controlled Cortical Impact Model for Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: August 5, 2014
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In People With Subacute Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Earlier Physical Therapy Improved Symptoms at a Faster Rate Than
Kody R Campbell1,2, Prokopios Antonellis1, Robert J Peterka1,3
1Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States.
Physical Therapy
|December 18, 2024
Summary
Starting physical therapy sooner after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) leads to faster symptom improvement and better sensorimotor balance control compared to delayed rehabilitation in adults.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can cause sensorimotor deficits.
- Optimal timing for physical therapy initiation post-mTBI in non-athletes is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of early versus delayed physical therapy initiation on recovery after mTBI.
- To assess changes in patient-reported outcomes and objective measures of sensorimotor balance control.
Main Methods:
- Investigator-blinded randomized controlled trial with 203 adult participants.
- Early physical therapy group initiated rehabilitation within 1 week; later group initiated after a 6-week wait.
- Outcomes included Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and objective sensorimotor balance measures.
Main Results:
- Both groups improved, but the early physical therapy group showed significantly faster and greater improvement rates.
- Early physical therapy improved sensorimotor time delay, while the later group showed no change.
- The later physical therapy group experienced worsening balance control components.
Conclusions:
- Earlier initiation of physical therapy post-mTBI accelerates symptom recovery.
- Early physical therapy demonstrates benefits for sensorimotor balance control deficits.
- A critical window likely exists for addressing central sensorimotor impairments after mTBI.
