Effectiveness of vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) after persistent dizziness following sport-related concussion: a systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Background: Vestibular Rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is an exercise-based treatment program designed to promote vestibular habituation, adaptation, and substitution. The goals of VRT are to enhance gaze stability, postural stability, and to improve activities of daily living. Dizziness and balance impairments are common following sport-related concussions; however, it is unclear how much impact VRT may have in the treatment for this population. Purpose: To conduct a systematic review to verify the application and outcomes of VRT after sport-related concussion with persistent dizziness and to determine the effectiveness of the treatment for sport-related concussion. Method: A systematic review of the following electronic databases was conducted: CINAHL Complete, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Academic Search Complete, PUBMED, COCHRANE, and MEDLINE. The search ranged from January 2011 to April 2023. Results: 248 articles were found based on the specific search criteria. From them, 105 were selected and 54 records screened. After applying the criteria of inclusion and exclusion, four articles remained for examination. Conclusion: Vestibular rehabilitation therapy shows promise to improve dizziness and imbalance symptoms in those who have suffered sport-related concussions. As current return-to-play protocols do not account for adequate compensation of the vestibular system and may result in reinjury, vestibular rehabilitation may be able to assist the player’s recovery time, and in turn prevent reinjury; however, due to limited evidence, further studies are necessary to confirm these findings.