Prevalence of cervical, vestibulo-ocular and or physiological impairments in symptomatic individuals 4 weeks to 6 months post-concussion

Abstract

Background: Deficits in individual measures relating to cervical, vestibulo-ocular or physiological subsystems have been observed in symptomatic individuals post-concussion. Few studies consider the presence of several impairments within and across each of these three subsystems.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of cervical, vestibulo-ocular and or physiological impairment in symptomatic individuals four weeks to six months post-concussion.

Setting: Tertiary hospital and university.

Design: Exploratory observational cohort study.

Methods: Participants were deemed to have: Cervical impairment if positive on at least 3/7 cervical tests, vestibulo-ocular impairment if positive on at least 2/11 tests and physiological impairment if they failed the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test.

Results: Impairment across all three subsystems was detected in 29 % of participants, two subsystems in 47 %, one in 23 % and none in 3 %. Eighty-five percent had cervical impairment.

Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of multiple subsystem impairments and the majority had a cervical impairment across a number of cervical tests. Hence, in clinical practice, it is essential to perform a detailed physical examination across all subsystems and consider clinical implications of cervical impairments in the majority of individuals four weeks to six months post-concussion.