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✦ The Dispatch

Virtual reality and VR-like technologies for the assessment and rehabilitation of concussion-related vestibular and oculomotor dysfunction: a systematic review

A dispatch from PubMed — filed

Vestibular and oculomotor dysfunction after concussion may cause persistent dizziness, imbalance, visual motion sensitivity, and functional limitation. Virtual reality (VR) and technologies are used for assessment and rehabilitation, but applications, devices, and outcomes remain heterogeneous. This review evaluated VR and VR-like technologies for concussion-related vestibular and oculomotor dysfunction.

Continue reading at PubMed

✦ The floor

Discussion

Signed responses from readers of the wire.

✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦

VR and VR-like tools show promise for concussion-related balance and eye-movement problems, but evidence quality and study designs vary enough that clinicians should not replace validated vestibular assessments with VR protocols yet without consulting updated clinical guidelines.

✦ Why It Matters ✦

If VR-based assessment and rehabilitation is validated for post-concussion vestibular dysfunction, it could meaningfully expand access to affordable, objective, and engaging rehabilitation tools in audiology and vestibular clinics.

✦ Key Points ✦
  1. 01Systematic review in Brain Injury journal covering VR and VR-like technologies for post-concussion vestibular and oculomotor (eye-movement) assessment and rehab.
  2. 02Addresses both diagnostic and therapeutic applications of VR following concussion.
  3. 03Vestibular dysfunction (balance problems) and oculomotor dysfunction are common concussion sequelae that are challenging to assess objectively.
  4. 04VR offers potential advantages: standardised stimulus delivery, objective performance metrics, and remote rehabilitation capability.
  5. 05Evidence quality across included studies likely varies; systematic reviews synthesise but do not guarantee uniform RCT-level evidence.
✦ Claims & Evidence ✦

VR and VR-like technologies can be used to assess and rehabilitate vestibular and oculomotor dysfunction following concussion.

studypartially supported
✦ Research metadata ✦
PMID
42859897
DOI
10.1080/02699052.2026.2744773.
Journal
Brain Injury
Publication type
systematic_review
Evidence level
1a
Population
Individuals with concussion-related vestibular and oculomotor dysfunction
Intervention
Virtual reality and VR-like technologies for assessment and rehabilitation

Primary outcomes

Vestibular dysfunction assessment accuracy or outcomes; Oculomotor dysfunction assessment accuracy or outcomes; Rehabilitation effectiveness post-concussion

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