Disparity vergence differences between typically occurring and concussion-related convergence insufficiency pediatric patients.

This study sought to test the hypothesis that significant differences would be observed in clinical measures, symptoms, and objective assessments of vergence eye movements between children with typically developing convergence insufficiency (TYP-CI) and children with persistent post-concussion symptoms with convergence insufficiency (PPCS-CI). Data from age-matched binocularly normal controls (BNC) were used for comparison. Data from three groups of children 11 to 17 years of age are presented: BNC (N = 11), TYP-CI (N = 10), and PPCS-CI (N = 15).

Epidemiology and Incidence of Pediatric Concussions in General Aspects of Life.

Background: Concussions are one of the most common head injuries acquired within the pediatric population. While sport-related concussions are well documented, concussions within other aspects of a child's life are not as well researched. The purpose of this study is to examine the incidence of a large pediatric concussion population in a broad range of daily activities.

Gender differences in quality of life and symptom expression during recovery from concussion.

Pediatric concussion is a significant health concern for parents, medical providers, and schools. This study was designed to gain insight into gender differences in perspectives of children and adolescents recovering from concussion. Specifically, the study explored whether males and females reported different symptom loads for physical symptoms and quality of life after concussion.

Vestibular Rehabilitation Is Associated With Visuovestibular Improvement in Pediatric Concussion.

Background And Purpose: Vision and vestibular-related deficits are common after concussion and are associated with prolonged recovery times, substantially impacting the quality of life for children. The utility of targeted vestibular rehabilitation for these deficits in children after concussion is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether active vestibular rehabilitation is associated with an improvement in visuovestibular signs and symptoms in children with concussion.

Vision Diagnoses Are Common After Concussion in Adolescents.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of vision diagnoses after concussion in adolescents.

Methods: Cross-sectional study from July 1, 2013 to February 28, 2014, of patients aged 11 to 17 years with concussion evaluated in a comprehensive concussion program.

Results: A total of 100 adolescents were examined, with a mean age of 14.

Vestibular Deficits following Youth Concussion.

Objective: To characterize the prevalence and recovery of pediatric patients with concussion who manifest clinical vestibular deficits and to describe the correlation of these deficits with neurocognitive function, based on computerized neurocognitive testing, in a sample of pediatric patients with concussion.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients ages 5-18 years with concussion referred to a tertiary pediatric hospital-affiliated sports medicine clinic from July 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011. A random sample of all eligible patient visits was obtained, and all related visits for those patients were reviewed.

Oculomotor and neurocognitive assessment of youth ice hockey players: baseline associations and observations after concussion.

Baseline scores on the King-Devick (K-D) Test, Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT), Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 3 (SCAT3), and convergence were evaluated in youth hockey players. Worse K-D times were associated with worse ImPACT visual motor speed and reaction time. Eleven concussed athletes were retested, and there was a trend toward improved ImPACT and K-D times compared to baseline.

Characteristics of prolonged concussion recovery in a pediatric subspecialty referral population.

Objective: To identify pre-existing characteristics associated with prolonged recovery from concussion in a sample of patients referred to a pediatric sports medicine clinic.

Study Design: This was a retrospective, exploratory cohort study of 247 patients age 5-18 years with concussion referred to a tertiary pediatric hospital-affiliated sports medicine clinic from July 1, 2010, through December 31, 2011. A random sample of all eligible patient visits (3740) was chosen for further review and abstraction.

Common lower extremity injuries in the skeletally immature athlete.

Lower extremity musculoskeletal pain is a common complaint in the adolescent athlete. During rapid growth, several common biomechanical changes occur that may predispose to overuse injury. Unlike fractures, most of these office-based sports medicine complaints are initially evaluated by the primary care provider.

The incidence and potential pathomechanics of patellofemoral pain in female athletes.

Background: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and incidence of patellofemoral pain (PFP) in young female athletes and prospectively evaluate measures of frontal plane knee loading during landing to determine their relationship to development of PFP. We hypothesized that increased dynamic knee abduction measured during preseason biomechanical testing would be increased in those who developed PFP relative to teammates who did not develop PFP.

Methods: Middle and high school female athletes (n=240) were evaluated by a physician for PFP and for landing biomechanics prior to their basketball season.