Concussion rehabilitation through a cervical spine intervention lens: a scoping review.

AbstractBackgroundObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionMany people experience prolonged symptoms following a concussive event. The origin of these symptoms can be difficult to identify and subsequently treat based on the interconnected nature of the brain and cervical spine.The purpose of this review was to identify and describe the current scope of cervical spine physical rehabilitation interventions literature relative to potential outcomes in (1) different categories of cervical spine pathology and (2) in the context of concussion rehabilitation specifically.Studies were included if they were peer reviewed, in English, included human participants, incorporated a physical rehabilitation intervention to address cervical spine-related pathology, and were published between March 2010 and November 2023. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist was used to synthesize the results. Further, each study was classified within an intervention-outcome pairing group based on the final included studies.The initial search yielded 4,275 potential articles with 149 being included. Final results included 50 systematic reviews, 60 randomized clinical trials, 9 observational studies, 10 pilot studies, and 20 case studies/series. Out of the 149 total studies, 9 addressed the cervical spine in context of concussion.Many studies of varying levels of evidence support that physical rehabilitation interventions for cervical spine dysfunction may improve outcomes in patients with and without concussive injuries. However, further research is necessary to determine the most appropriate and effective cervical spine interventions for patients experiencing concussive events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]