Examination of Balance, Vestibular, and Ocular Functions and Activity Following Concussion
| Status: | Active, not recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Neurology |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Neurology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 12 - 40 |
| Updated: | 3/22/2019 |
| Start Date: | June 30, 2015 |
| End Date: | January 1, 2020 |
A Longitudinal Examination of Dynamic Balance Control, Vestibular/Ocular Motor Function, and Activity Participation Following Concussion
Previous research and position statements have outlined the necessity of balance and gait
testing in the post-concussion evaluation of athletes. However, many of the currently
available balance testing techniques lack objectivity and sensitivity to the effects of
concussion. Such balance impairments may exist following concussion due to disruption of
vestibular and/or ocular motor systems. However, no clinically feasible tools have been
longitudinally examined to detect gait balance control deficits or to investigate how
vestibular or motor dysfunction may lead to gait imbalance. Additionally, participation in
physical and cognitive activities post-concussion may affect recovery. While limited evidence
exists to support this notion, further investigation is necessary to improve clinical
management recommendations.
The proposed study will allow for the examination of tools which add value to post-concussion
clinical evaluations and study-related outcomes will enhance the understanding of dynamic
balance control and vestibular/ocular motor recovery, and their potential for implementation
into concussion management protocols.
testing in the post-concussion evaluation of athletes. However, many of the currently
available balance testing techniques lack objectivity and sensitivity to the effects of
concussion. Such balance impairments may exist following concussion due to disruption of
vestibular and/or ocular motor systems. However, no clinically feasible tools have been
longitudinally examined to detect gait balance control deficits or to investigate how
vestibular or motor dysfunction may lead to gait imbalance. Additionally, participation in
physical and cognitive activities post-concussion may affect recovery. While limited evidence
exists to support this notion, further investigation is necessary to improve clinical
management recommendations.
The proposed study will allow for the examination of tools which add value to post-concussion
clinical evaluations and study-related outcomes will enhance the understanding of dynamic
balance control and vestibular/ocular motor recovery, and their potential for implementation
into concussion management protocols.
To address study hypotheses, the investigators plan to recruit subjects who have been
diagnosed with a concussion by participating sports medicine physicians at the Boston
Children's Hospital Sports Concussion Clinic. If patients elect to participate, they will
undergo their regularly scheduled clinical examination along with two testing components
requiring less than 15 minutes of additional time to complete: an instrumented gait balance
assessment, a vestibular-ocular motor screen, and a weekly activity survey. Participants with
concussion will be matched with control subjects who meet similar demographic characteristics
and report to the clinic for other orthopedic injuries that do not affect brain function,
gait, or either lower extremity.
During the assessment, participants will complete a protocol which measures balance control
while walking and simultaneously completing a cognitive task, a vestibular-ocular motor
ability, and physical and cognitive activity levels. As a need exists to develop protocols
which utilize inexpensive, objective, and sensitive measurements to track concussion
recovery, this study seeks to incorporate innovative and clinically feasible methods into the
clinical examination of concussion.
diagnosed with a concussion by participating sports medicine physicians at the Boston
Children's Hospital Sports Concussion Clinic. If patients elect to participate, they will
undergo their regularly scheduled clinical examination along with two testing components
requiring less than 15 minutes of additional time to complete: an instrumented gait balance
assessment, a vestibular-ocular motor screen, and a weekly activity survey. Participants with
concussion will be matched with control subjects who meet similar demographic characteristics
and report to the clinic for other orthopedic injuries that do not affect brain function,
gait, or either lower extremity.
During the assessment, participants will complete a protocol which measures balance control
while walking and simultaneously completing a cognitive task, a vestibular-ocular motor
ability, and physical and cognitive activity levels. As a need exists to develop protocols
which utilize inexpensive, objective, and sensitive measurements to track concussion
recovery, this study seeks to incorporate innovative and clinically feasible methods into the
clinical examination of concussion.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Age between 12 and 40 years
2. No history of concussion in the past year, and no lifetime history of more than 3
concussions
3. Diagnosed with concussion within the past 21 days (concussion group only)
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Lower extremity deficiency or injury, which may affect normal balance or gait
2. History of permanent memory loss
3. Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD), learning disability, Down syndrome, or developmental delay
We found this trial at
1
site
300 Longwood Ave
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
(617) 355-6000
Phone: 781-216-2865
Boston Children's Hospital Boston Children's Hospital is a 395-bed comprehensive center for pediatric health care....
Click here to add this to my saved trials
