Concussion

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can create chemical changes in the brain and temporarily disrupt normal brain function

Diagram showing three types of concussions: direct impact injury, acceleration-deceleration injury, and blast injury, with illustrations of brain impacts and damage.

What types of problems can be caused by a concussion?

Symptoms of a concussion are varied and can be…

  • Physical

    • Headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, sensitivity to light or sounds, vision changes, numbness/tingling

  • Cognitive

    • Difficulty concentrating, mental fogginess, confusion, and memory difficulty

  • Emotional

    • Increased irritability, nervousness, sadness

  • Sleep disruptions

    • More or less than usual, trouble falling or staying asleep

Digital illustration of a human head and brain with a hand touching the temple, with bright pink and purple lightning symbolizing brain activity, set against a blue background.

How can physical therapy help?

Physical therapy is uniquely suited to treat multiple aspects of a concussion including…

  • Vestibular Rehabilitation

    • Habituation and gaze stabilization exercises used to treat dizziness, vertigo, and balance deficits

  • Oculomotor Therapy

    • Tracking, convergence, eye coordination exercises to help restore eye movements

  • Exertion training/return to activity

    • Sub-threshold exercise testing to reintroduce cardiovascular exercises safely without symptom “flare”

  • Cervicogenic Treatment

    • Manual therapy, strengthening, improved neck proprioception training to reduce effects of whiplash including neck pain and headaches

With an effective physical therapy prescription patients can accelerate their recovery times, prevent chronic symptoms, and return safely to all activities they took part in prior to their injury