Vestibular Rehabilitation for Children After Concussion

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who see children and adolescents after concussion in outpatient, school-based, sports medicine, or hospital settings, along with clinicians who want a quick, accurate read on how strong the pediatric vestibular rehabilitation evidence actually is.

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants

Intended audience

Physical Therapy

Level

Introductory

Delivery format

Online, asynchronous, self-paced course: interactive reading with audio or video, and a scored post-test.

Based on

This course is based on a single published systematic review examining whether vestibular rehabilitation therapy improves vestibular function, postural control, and gait in children after concussion. The review searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PubMed, followed PRISMA reporting guidelines, appraised study quality with three different tools, and included twelve studies of mixed design. The authors describe it as the first systematic review focused specifically on vestibular rehabilitation for children post-concussion, and it carries a level of evidence of 3.

Every claim, count, and conclusion in this course traces to that review. Where the review’s authors were uncertain, this course reports that uncertainty rather than smoothing it over.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Describe what the systematic review examined, which children and study designs were included, and what the review's authors concluded about vestibular rehabilitation therapy after pediatric concussion.
2. State the direction of the findings the review reported for dizziness, balance confidence, balance error scoring, gait, and post-concussion symptoms.
3. Explain the main limitations the review's authors identified, including the use of outcome measures never validated in children and the predominance of non-experimental study designs.

1. Start Here: How This Course Works
2. The Podcast: Vestibular Rehabilitation After Pediatric Concussion (about nine minutes)
3. Why Vestibular Symptoms After Pediatric Concussion Drew Attention
4. How the Review Was Built: Searching, Screening, and Appraisal
5. What the Twelve Studies Reported: Dizziness, Balance, Gait, and Symptoms
6. Where the Evidence Falls Short: Adult Measures, Mixed Ages, Small Studies
7. What the Authors Say It Could Mean for Pediatric Practice
8. Key Takeaways
9. Post-Test and Course Evaluation

Quinn Millington, PT, DPT, ECS is the instructor of record: the licensed clinician who reviewed this course and signed off on it. The name and credentials print on the certificate.

Disclosures. This course was developed by The ConEd Solution, which has a financial interest in its sale. No outside funding or sponsorship was received. The instructor of record has no affiliation with the authors of the source publication or their institutions.

This course awards 0.5 contact hours (30 min). How you earn them:

1. Complete the course. Every lesson, in order.
2. Pass the post-test. Score 80% or higher. Retakes are allowed.
3. Complete the evaluation. A short form rating each learning objective and the course.
4. Download your certificate. It is issued on completion and stays available in My Account.

The episode time is its measured length. Reading, post-test and evaluation times are estimates.

This course is designed to satisfy the quality requirements state boards set for continuing education. Requirements vary by state, and confirming that a course fits your renewal is up to you. Each state’s own acceptance statement is in the credit panel on this page.

1. This course is based on a single published systematic review examining whether vestibular rehabilitation therapy improves vestibular function, postural control, and gait in children after concussion. The review searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PubMed, followed PRISMA reporting guidelines, appraised study quality with three different tools, and included twelve studies of mixed design. The authors describe it as the first systematic review focused specifically on vestibular rehabilitation for children post-concussion, and it carries a level of evidence of 3.
2. Every claim, count, and conclusion in this course traces to that review. Where the review's authors were uncertain, this course reports that uncertainty rather than smoothing it over.