Effects of Osteopathic Treatment on Vestibular Disturbed Active Post Concussed Individual

The proposed study is a randomized clinical trial with the purpose of determining the efficacy of osteopathic treatment on vestibular symptoms of the post concussed vestibular disturbed athlete as determined by the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS). Of secondary interest, this study will evaluate the osteopathic assessment findings of this population and side effects, positive and negative, associated with the osteopathic treatment provided.

The study will focus on Athletes between the ages of 18-40 who have received a concussion and continue to suffer the sequela of symptoms, including vestibular disturbances, a minimum of 1-month and maximum of 1-year post concussion. A sports medicine physician will screen potential participants for inclusion and exclusion criteria and referred to the project as appropriate.

All subjects will receive an initial osteopathic evaluation and baseline BESS and DHI. There will be a total of 7 balance tests performed each week for the first 5 weeks and then the final at the 8-week mark. Dizziness inventories will be completed daily for the duration of the 8-week project. The control group will receive the standard of care, rest, whereas the experimental group will receive four osteopathic treatments in addition to rest. The experimental group, in addition to completing BESS testing and DHI forms will also account for any side effects associated with osteopathic treatments daily following treatments.

Inclusion criteria

• Active Male or Female Individuals between the ages of 18-45
• Active defined as a minimum of 30 minutes of activity 3 times a week (prior to concussion)
• Post Concussive symptoms with associated vestibular disturbance (balance and dizziness) greater than one month in duration and no longer than 18 months

Exclusion criteria

• Known vestibular disease (ex. Menieres Disease, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), ear infection)
• Positive Dix-Hallpike Maneuver
• Current participating in any treatment program including vestibular rehabilitation, vestibular depressant medication or anti-depressants for the treatment of post concussed syndrome or associated conditions such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression
• Braces or fixed dental retainer
• Temporal Mandibular Joint dysfunction (TMJ) in the past year
• Recent (within past 6 months) osteo-articular injury within the lower extremity
• Surgery in the past year
• Prior dental surgery or surgery to the face/head
• Prior fractures to the cranial or facial bones
• Disease such as cancer, liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease, epilepsy, spinal cord disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis
• History of hypertension or hypotension, high blood pressure, myocardial infarction, angina, stroke, brain tumor, migraines not associated with current concussion and diabetes
• Females that are currently pregnant