The Vestibular System

One area of particular concern when it comes to concussions is the vestibular system. This complex network includes small sensory organs of the inner ear and connections to various parts of our body, including the brain stem, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, ocular system, and postural muscles. It provides information regarding head movements and positions to maintain visual and balance control.

Clinic tests to properly treat concussions

Traditional concussion evaluation tools, such as the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) and the Sensory Organization Test (SOT), only represent the vestibulospinal aspect of the vestibular system. These tests overlook the dynamic aspects of the vestibular system or vestibulo-ocular control. Thus, dysfunction resulting from vestibulo-ocular impairments may be overlooked when using only vestibulospinal assessments. As such, additional clinical vestibular assessments are warranted that go beyond the current vestibulospinal measures to include vestibulo-ocular and ocular motor aspects.

Concussion Symptoms

Nearly 30% of concussed athletes report visual problems during the first week after the injury. Ocular motor impairments and symptoms may manifest as blurred vision, diplopia, and impaired eye movements, among others. A recent study of rugby players illustrated the value of assessing saccadic eye movements to better identify concussions without reported signs or symptoms using the King-Devick test. However, the King-Devick test does not evaluate other areas of ocular motor function such as pursuit, convergence, or accommodation, all of which have been implicated in mild traumatic brain injury studies as important indicators of dysfunction.

WESTPRO Concussion Rehab is your best choice

One tool designed by the experts at the Pittsburg medical center to detect signs and symptoms of a concussion is the Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS). This tool evaluates a range of vestibular and ocular motor functions, including saccades, smooth pursuit, convergence, and vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR). By using VOMS, we can better identify vestibular and ocular motor impairments and symptoms in our clients, which can help us develop more effective treatment plans.