Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39906055›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of sports physical therapy2025

Effectiveness of Vestibular Rehabilitation in Children Post-Concussion: A Systematic Review.

Devashish Tiwari, Melisa Erdal, Kristyn Alonzo, Victoria Twombly, Paige Concannon, August West, Mairead O'Byrne

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of sports physical therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Devashish TiwariDepartment of Physical Therapy MGH Institute of Health Professions.
Melisa ErdalDepartment of Physical Therapy MGH Institute of Health Professions.
Kristyn AlonzoDepartment of Physical Therapy MGH Institute of Health Professions.
Victoria TwomblyDepartment of Physical Therapy Simmons University.
Paige ConcannonDepartment of Physical Therapy Simmons University.
August WestDepartment of Physical Therapy Simmons University.
Mairead O'ByrneDepartment of Physical Therapy Simmons University.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Concussion in children is a significant public health burden in the United States with 2.3 million children under the age of 17 years sustaining a concussion in 2022 alone. Children post-concussion experience a wide range of symptoms of vestibular dysfunction. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) has been shown to substantially decrease dizziness and improve gait and balance function in adults post-concussion, but limited information is available for children. Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the effectiveness of VRT on improving vestibular function, postural control, and gait in children post-concussion. Study design: Systematic review. Methods: An electronic search of MEDLINE and CINAHL was conducted in October 2022 and later updated in April 2024 using MeSH terms and keywords related to vestibular rehabilitation, concussion, and children. Quality appraisal was conducted independently by two reviewers using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist, the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist and Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were utilized for screening and data extraction. Results: Overall, twelve studies (three randomized controlled trials, five cohort studies, two case series and two case reports) were included in the review. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) was the most frequently utilized measure (five studies). Three studies reported a statistically significant improvement in DHI (change scores = 19-25, p < 0.05), gait speed (F = 38.3, p < 0.001), Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) (change score percentage 12.1 - 52%, p < 0.01), and Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale (change = 20-29 points, p <0.01). Conclusion: VRT shows promise and may result in symptom improvements in children post-concussion when used as part of a multimodal intervention plan. Further research with larger samples is recommended to make informed decisions about dosage and long-term functional outcomes in children post-concussion. Level of Evidence: 3.

Indexed as

childrenConcussionfunctionsymptomsvestibular rehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID39906055
PMCPMC11788084

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.