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✦ The Dispatch

Prognostic Value of Vestibular Symptoms on the Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening for Return-to-play After Sport-related Concussion: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

A dispatch from PubMed — filed

AND PURPOSE: The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) contributes to gaze stabilization after head movement, but its independent prognostic value for return-to-play (RTP) after sport-related concussion (SRC) is unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined associations between early vestibular-ocular motor screening (VOMS) assessment and RTP duration following SRC.

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✦ The floor

Discussion

Signed responses from readers of the wire.

✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦

VOMS vestibular symptom scores may independently predict delayed return-to-play after sport-related concussion — clinicians managing concussed athletes should consider incorporating VOMS as a structured prognostic tool alongside existing protocols, pending review of the full meta-analytic data.

✦ Why It Matters ✦

Establishing the VOMS as a validated prognostic tool for return-to-play decisions could standardize vestibular assessment in sports concussion management and increase referrals to audiologists and vestibular specialists.

✦ Key Points ✦
  1. 01Systematic review and meta-analysis examined VOMS vestibular symptoms as predictors of return-to-play after sport-related concussion.
  2. 02VOMS assesses eye-movement control and balance — functions governed partly by the inner-ear vestibular system.
  3. 03The review asks whether vestibular VOMS findings independently (on their own) predict prolonged recovery.
  4. 04This is a higher-quality evidence synthesis (meta-analysis) rather than a single study.
  5. 05Findings could support vestibular screening becoming a standard part of concussion return-to-play protocols.
✦ Claims & Evidence ✦

Vestibular symptoms on the VOMS independently predict return-to-play outcomes after sport-related concussion.

studypartially supported
✦ Research metadata ✦
PMID
42876117
DOI
10.1097/NPT.0000000000000585.
Journal
Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy
Publication type
meta_analysis
Evidence level
1a
Population
Athletes with sport-related concussion undergoing return-to-play evaluation
Intervention
Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) vestibular symptom scores
Comparator
Standard return-to-play protocols without VOMS vestibular scoring

Primary outcomes

Prognostic value of VOMS vestibular symptoms for return-to-play timing after sport-related concussion

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