Concussion Management Physiotherapy
Over the last decade, concussion awareness, research and best practice for treatment has significantly developed and evolved. As such, there may be conflicting information individuals hear and find it difficult to decipher how to best proceed following a concussion. For starters, a concussion can result from a sports-related injury, motor vehicle accident, slip and fall or simply hitting your head off a counter. Individuals with a concussion may experience a variety of symptoms which will be different from case to case. The following blog is aimed to briefly identify key areas impacted following a concussion and symptoms which correspond to each.
Vision/Ocular – The ability for your brain to process information from the eyes and your ability to coordinate eye movements may be impacted. When this system is disrupted, symptoms often include blurred vision, double vision, trouble focusing/reading, nausea and dizziness. Individuals will often report worsening symptoms with screen time, bright lights or driving at night.
Balance – The inner ear known as your vestibular system, has nerve connections to your brain much like the eyes. Following a concussion, some people may report a loss of balance, feeling unsteady on their feet or a tendency to veer to one side while walking. These clients will report the need to walk close to the wall or standing against a solid object in case they require support.
Cervical/Neck – Your neck is often affected following a concussion as your head tends to quickly move side to side or bounced off an object at impact. Such movements and/or impacts can cause neck muscles to strain and tighten resulting in a variety of symptoms included but not limited to; pain in the neck, headaches, nausea, dizziness and tingling down one or both arms.
Cardiovascular – The nerve which controls your heart rate and other functions of your internal organs originates in your neck/upper spine. Normally, when we increase our physical activity, our heart rate will automatically increase to match the increased demand for blood and oxygen to our muscles and brain. Following a concussion, this response may be delayed resulting in your brain requiring more blood flow and oxygen than your heart is able to pump when exerting yourself. In this case, common symptoms include lightheadedness, headaches, nausea or dizziness.
Sleep – After a concussion, individuals will require increased sleep as their body and brain are working hard to recover resulting in increased fatigue. An outdated practice suggested placing someone in a dark room and waking them every hour to ensure they are okay. New practice emphasizes the importance of allowing someone to sleep continuously providing it does not interfere with their regular sleep schedule. Individuals may struggle to fall asleep at night if they nap to long during the day or over stimulate themselves in the evening before bed.
Cognition/Mood – An important area to address following a concussion is the impact on one’s memory, processing time and anxiety/mood. Individuals who have suffered a concussion will often report difficulty remembering simple tasks like a grocery list, what they did the day before, etc. They may notice difficulty finding words or solving straight forward problems. These symptoms on top of a lack of sleep or fatigue can create feels of frustration, agitation, depression, anxiety, fear and many more.
The Solution:
A Physiotherapist who has received proper training in concussion management can properly guide and assist in your rehab for the first 5 categories listed above. After a comprehensive assessment to identify which areas your concussion has impacted, your physiotherapist will design a program to help manage and improve each symptom. They will provide ample education to ensure you know what causes your symptoms, what we/the therapist will do about it, what you can do for it and answer any questions you may have. The positive news is the majority of people (<90%) who suffer a concussion do make a full recovery within 8 weeks .
If someone is struggling with their cognition/memory, an Occupational Therapist with concussion training will specialize in exercises design to improve cognition and help with planning and pacing your day to minimize symptoms and maximize recovery.
If you or a loved one has suffered from a concussion recently or have been diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, feel free to give us a call and we would be happy to discuss if physiotherapy is best for you.
