Concussion Therapy at International Physical Therapy
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). It can occur after an impact to the head or an injury that causes the head and brain to shake quickly back and forth. Concussions are mostly caused by motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries or falls. It is typical that recovery from a concussion can take from a few hours up to a few weeks, however, sometimes symptoms may last longer than normal. Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) is when concussion-related symptoms last for weeks, months or occasionally a year after a concussion. Patients with post-concussion syndrome can experience numerous symptoms, but the most commonly report symptoms are not being able to think clearly, feeling tired, not being unable to concentrate, nausea and vomiting, headache, fuzzy or blurry vision, dizziness, sensitivity to light or noise, and balance problems.
At International Physical Therapy we have trained therapist that specialize in using evidence- based practice to evaluate, manage and treat patients of all ages with concussions. By using computerized post -injury neurocognitive concussion testing such as the ImPACT assessment, as well as balance exams and vestibular testing we are able to develop rehabilitation programs that are individually created for each concussion patient and their needs. After a patient is evaluated, we focus on creating a plan of care that incorporates exercising, manual therapy, and vestibular and visual rehab which has been proven to be a successful program for patients to recover from a concussion in the most efficient and quickest way.
When an individual has a concussion, they can experience cervical tightness that was caused by whiplash or a blow to head. This tightness in the neck can cause inability to move the neck properly and often cause dizziness. We have found the manual therapy and therapeutic massage to the suboccipital muscles and neck have significantly decreased tightness and any reported dizziness. We also focus on returning patient’s to exercises as quickly as they can tolerate. Research has found that starting low impact aerobic exercise at three to seven days following an injury has contributed to a faster return to work and sports. Therefore, we focus on creating an appropriate aerobic program for each patient once their initial symptoms subside. Finally, we address vestibular and visual disturbance that are common post-concussion, by incorporating balance reeducation and including gaze stabilization exercises that will assist with decreasing dizziness and motion sensitivity that a person may experience after a concussion.
Proper rehabilitation by a trained therapist can significantly benefit a patient’s concussion recovery. It is important for patients to be evaluate in a timely manner to be able to create a therapy program that will promote the best possible outcome for a quick and effective rehab. For more information on concussions and concussion rehabilitation, reach out to our clinic to speak to one of our therapists about how we can help you!