No Differences in Outcomes Between Male and Female Adolescent Athletes Who Receive Vestibular Rehabilitation

With enhancements in standard of care for sport-related concussion (SRC), there is a need to examine sex differences within the context of specific targeted treatments, like vestibular rehabilitation (VR). The primary purpose was to compare symptom severity and vestibular and ocular motor impairment between male and female adolescent athletes with SRC who received VR. The secondary purpose was to compare VR treatment time and recovery time between male and female adolescent athletes with SRC.

Specialty concussion clinic in a metropolitan area in Texas.

Male ( n = 14, 30.4%) and female ( n = 32, 69.6%) adolescent athletes (15.39 ± 1.11 years) in sex-comparable sports were referred to VR within 30 days after SRC.

Retrospective cohort.

Symptom severity was measured using the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale, and vestibular and ocular motor impairment was assessed using the Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening at the first clinic visit and the VR discharge visit. The VR treatment time was the number of days from the first VR visit to the VR discharge visit. Recovery time was the number of days from injury to medical clearance from the clinic.

There were no sex differences in symptom severity ( P = 0.12) or vestibular ocular motor impairment at the first clinic visit. There were no sex differences in the change in symptom severity ( P = 0.71) or vestibular ocular motor impairment during VR. There were no sex differences in VR treatment time ( P = 0.52) or recovery time ( P = 0.17).

There were no observed sex differences in symptom severity or vestibular and ocular motor impairment at the first clinic visit. Male and female adolescent athletes demonstrated similar benefit from, and length of, VR.