RETURN TO PLAY FOR A HOCKEY PLAYER WITH PERSISTENT POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME AND HEMI-NEGLECT FOLLOWING TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI): A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event RETURN TO PLAY FOR A HOCKEY PLAYER WITH PERSISTENT POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME AND HEMI-NEGLECT FOLLOWING TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI): A CASE STUDY Frederick R. Carrick1, 2*, Benjamin R. Behrendt1, 3 and Thomas Schmid4 1 Carrick Institute for Graduate Studies, United States 2 Senior Research Fellow of Bedfordshire Centre for Mental Health Research in association with the University of Cambridge (BCMHR-CU), United Kingdom 3 NeuroWorks Healthcare LLC, United States 4 Private Practice, Switzerland Background: A twenty-four year-old professional male hockey player was referred to our clinic approximately one-year post injury. He suffered a TBI (comatose for two weeks with initial Glasgow Scale 3) which included significant musculoskeletal and soft tissue damage (multiple vertebral and rib fractures, liver contusions) after being struck by an automobile as a pedestrian. While he regained function after extensive rehabilitation, he continued to have persistent right hemi-neglect. Methods: Diagnostic pre and post assessments were performed with videonystagmography (VNG), computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) and neurological examinations confirmed a centrally maintained vestibular syndrome. Oculomotor exercises, specific on-ice hockey drills and complex motor skill training were introduced in concert with a graduated vestibular/brain based protocol utilizing multi-axis labyrinthine and otolithic stimulation (increasing duration and including pitch) over fourteen days in a multi-day treatment montage. Results: His balance, station and gait improved to normal range. Stability scores improved overall; specifically, with ability to maintain an upright stance with head in extension on a perturbed surface during CDP revealing 54.7% stability improvement, visual accuracy improved during VNG testing, hockey exercises were more accurate and drills improved. He also had fatiguability during everyday activity, as well as, on-ice hockey drills. Conclusion: Oculomotor therapy, complex motor skill training and vestibular integration utilizing multi-axial labyrinthine and otolithic stimulation may help athletes return to play. Further investigation in this therapy to help individuals with persistent post concussive symptoms associated with centrally maintained vestibular syndromes is warrented. Keywords: Post concussion syndrome, Traumatic brain injury (TBI), Hemi-Neglect Syndrome, whole body rotation, Off Vertical Axis Rotation (OVAR), vestibular therapy, vestibulopathy Conference: International Symposium on Clinical Neuroscience: TBI and Neurodegeneration, Orlando, Florida, United States, 10 Dec - 14 Dec, 2015. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Clinical aspects of TBI and Neurodegeneration Citation: Carrick FR, Behrendt BR and Schmid T (2015). RETURN TO PLAY FOR A HOCKEY PLAYER WITH PERSISTENT POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME AND HEMI-NEGLECT FOLLOWING TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI): A CASE STUDY. Front. Neurol. Conference Abstract: International Symposium on Clinical Neuroscience: TBI and Neurodegeneration. doi: 10.3389/conf.fneur.2015.58.00063 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 29 Oct 2015; Published Online: 02 Nov 2015. * Correspondence: Prof. Frederick R Carrick, Carrick Institute for Graduate Studies, Cape Canaveral, FL, 32920, United States, drfrcarrick@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Frederick R Carrick Benjamin R Behrendt Thomas Schmid Google Frederick R Carrick Benjamin R Behrendt Thomas Schmid Google Scholar Frederick R Carrick Benjamin R Behrendt Thomas Schmid PubMed Frederick R Carrick Benjamin R Behrendt Thomas Schmid Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.