Effects of Osteopathic Treatment on Vestibular Disturbed Active Post Concussed Individual

N/ACompletedNCT01962883

Collège d'Études Ostéopathiques6 enrolled

Overview

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.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Interventions

Osteopathic treatmentOTHER

The following treatment protocol is an outline only; structures will be treated only if the dysfunction was present during the evaluation. Week 1: Venous Sinuses, diaphragms, major cranial compactions, sphenobasilar symphysis normalization and dural release Week 2 Non-Physiological without respect of axis dysfunction in cranium, spine, pelvis, ankle. Non-physiological with respect of axis dysfunctions in the cranium. Temporal and orbital sutures. Week 3 Non-Physiological with respect of axis dysfunction lesions within the spine, pelvis and ankle. Visceral tissues: kidneys, liver, spleen, heart. Cerebral hemisphere and lateral ventricles. Week 4 Physiological dysfunctions within the cranium, spine, pelvis, and ankle. Myofascial restrictions and muscles of the jaw and eye.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 45 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI)

The DHI is a subjective self or clinician administered paper test consisting of 25 questions measuring the self-perceived handicap related to dizziness (Treleaven, 2006). The DHI represents 3 subdomains associated with dizziness or unsteadiness: functional, emotional and physical (Jacobson \& Newman, 1990). Each Yes answer is marked as a 4, each Sometimes answer is marked a 2 and each No answer is marked 0 to which the sum of the scores demonstrates the perceived handicap (Treleaven, 2006). Scores 0-30 is indicative of a mild handicap; 31-60 indicates a moderate handicap; 61-100 indicates a severe handicap (Treleaven, 2006). Jacobson \& Newman (1990) found a difference of at least 18 points from pre-treatment to post-treatment findings to suggest significant change in a patient's subjective perception on dizziness handicap. The DHI has shown significant correlation between specific objective measures of balance (Treleaven, 2006).

Time frame: Subject to complete DHI form daily for 9 weeks. Change in DHI scores over time periods: baseline (day 3), time 1-4 (day 5 post treatment or equivalent in control group) and time 5 (19 days post final treatment/equivalent in control group).

Balance Error Scoring System (BESS)

The BESS test is a short and easily administered objective clinical balance test often used in assessing and tracking recovery from athletic concussion (Iverson et al, 2008). It tests balance in a variety of stances either on solid ground or medium density foam (Guskiewicz, 2001 \& Iverson et al, 2008). The stance is held for 20 seconds to which error points are given based on changes to the stance such as opening the eyes; a maximum of 10 points is utilized for this study (Iverson et al, 2008). Normative values have been established for the BESS (Iverson et al, 2008) and significant correlations have been established between BESS and force-platform sway measures (Riemann et al, 2000).

Time frame: Subject to complete BESS once a week for the first 5 weeks and again week 8. Change in BESS scores over time periods: baseline, week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4 and week 8.