Does time since injury and duration matter in the benefits of physical therapy treatment for concussion?

Objective To determine if there are differences in post-concussion symptom levels depending on 1) when physical therapy treatment is begun after the concussion and 2) the length of treatment. Method Retrospective chart review yielded 202 patients who sustained concussions and were referred for physical therapy. Participants/patients were assigned to independent groups based on time elapsed between concussion and physical therapy (0–14, 15–30, 31–60, 61–120, 121–365 days), and on months spent in treatment (1–4). Pre- and post- treatment scores were documented for the following measures: Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT), Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), and Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB) using ANOVAs, with a Bonferroni-corrected p-value of p < .005. Results All patients demonstrated improvements with treatment, with no significant differences in outcomes for time elapsed since injury (SCAT Symptom Score (p = .80), SCAT Symptom Severity Score (p = .97), CISS (p = .61), DHI (p = .65), mCTSIB (p = .13)); or for months in treatment (SCAT Symptom Score (p = .23), SCAT Symptom Severity Score (p = .04), CISS (p = .41), DHI (p = .37), mCTSIB (p = .50)). Conclusions Improvements were similar for all patients receiving post-concussive physical therapy, regardless of time between injury and treatment onset, and regardless of time spent in treatment. These results may have implications for clinical decision-making and for third party payors’ coverage of post-concussion treatment. Longer periods of treatment may not necessarily be of greater benefit and application of treatment if delayed may also be beneficial. Limitations to the study, such as its retrospective nature, lack of randomization, and convenience sample size are discussed.