If you’ve had a concussion before, you know how extremely difficult it can be to deal with and how it can greatly impede your day-to-day functioning. Work, school, maintaining relationships, and keeping up with your home can quickly become overwhelming, triggering, and unmanageable after a concussion. It may seem like this is your new reality, but that isn’t necessarily the case! There are many strategies that can help you manage your symptoms, improve your function, and get back to effortlessly doing the things you used to enjoy.
What Is a Concussion? Is Post-Concussion Syndrome Different?
Concussions are characterized as a mild traumatic brain injury that temporarily reduces brain function. Concussions typically last a few weeks, but some individuals experience persistent symptoms, known as post-concussion syndrome (PCS). Often, lingering deficits after a concussion remain undiagnosed and untreated. A therapist trained in concussion rehabilitation can conduct a thorough assessment and help you create a customized treatment plan to help you get back to feeling like yourself again.
Concussions can impede the function of major systems in our bodies, which can result in extreme limitations in our daily life. For example, concussions have profound effects on our nervous system, which can result in a reduced cognitive capacity, altered mood and a significant reduction in energy. Concussions also have an effect on our visual and vestibular systems which can lead to several types of balance and visual issues.
What Symptoms Can Concussion Physiotherapy Help With?
Concussion physiotherapy is a comprehensive, multifaceted, evidence-based approach that can address concussion symptoms, including:
Dizziness and vertigo
Brain fog
Reduced balance
Difficulty with gaze stability
Reduced energy/capacity
Light and sound sensitivity
Migraines
Difficulty concentrating
Memory issues
Reduced cognitive capacity (e.g., challenges with school tasks or work performance)
Altered mood (e.g.,emotional lability, irritability)
Sleep disturbances (e.g., trouble falling or staying asleep)
Neck and shoulder pain/mobility issues
Concussions: Fact vs. Fiction
"I didn’t get knocked out, so it can’t be a concussion."
Many people associate concussions with losing consciousness, but this isn’t always the case! While a loss of consciousness can occur when you sustain a concussion, it is not a requirement for diagnosis. In fact, many individuals with concussions never lost consciousness when they hit their head.
"The only way I can get rest and relief is by lying in a dark room with no light or sound for hours."
If you’ve had a concussion, you might find lying in a dark, quiet room helpful for relief. This advice is sometimes even recommended by healthcare professionals as a management strategy. While it can provide temporary relief, completely isolating yourself in darkness is not the best way to give your brain the rest it needs!
Rest is essential for concussion recovery, but it doesn’t mean shutting yourself off from the world entirely. Instead, strategies like pacing and active rest can help you maintain and even rebuild your energy and capacity. In fact, limiting yourself to darkness and sensory isolation can inhibit your recovery!
Through a comprehensive assessment, a concussion physiotherapist can guide you in pacing your daily activities to manage energy levels while incorporating restful activities that don’t require full isolation. It is important to find this balance as with the right tools and strategies, you can reduce your symptoms and improve your ability to engage in meaningful activities. Concussion recovery doesn’t have to mean total isolation—it’s about finding balance and building resilience.
What is a Concussion/Vestibular Physiotherapist?
Concussion physiotherapists have advanced training in concussions and associated symptoms. They are specifically trained to address the multifaceted nature of concussion recovery and have a thorough understanding of how the nervous system, vestibular system and visual system all contribute to your symptoms in the context of a concussion.
Through a thorough assessment and comprehensive treatment plan, concussion physiotherapists can address the specific areas where you’re struggling, help you understand your symptoms, and provide targeted relief. Additionally, they offer strategies and tools to help you rebuild your capacity for daily activities. This personalized approach helps increase your confidence in returning to what you love—whether it’s school, sports, hobbies, or other meaningful activities including your day-to-day.
What to Expect From Your Initial Assessment:
Your story is important to us. We aim to understand as much as possible about your concerns so that we can tailor our treatment approach to your goals and specific needs.
Here’s what you can expect:
Listening to Your Story: We will take the time to learn about your symptoms, challenges, and goals. Your input is vital in shaping the treatment plan.
Education: We will explain the anatomy of the vestibular and nervous systems and how they relate to your specific issues. Our goal is to answer your questions and provide insights to empower you in your rehabilitation journey.
Objective Assessment: We will perform movements and tests to better understand the causes of your symptoms. This thorough assessment will help us design a personalized treatment plan to get you back to doing what you love.
Clear Plan: You’ll leave the session with a better understanding of your condition, a plan for treatment and symptom management, and, hopefully, some relief from your symptoms. Our goal is to ensure you feel heard, empowered, and optimistic about your recovery.
Click here to book an Vestibular/Concussion Physiotherapy Initial Assessment at Tru Physiotherapy.
Disclaimer: Some objective tests may provoke your symptoms and cause discomfort. While this discomfort is often necessary for a thorough assessment and proper treatment, your comfort, capacity, and willingness will always remain our top priority.
What to Expect From Follow-Up Sessions
Every treatment plan is unique, tailored to your assessment findings and personal goals. However, our primary objectives in follow-up sessions include:
Reducing your symptoms.
Improving your activity tolerance and increasing capacity gradually.
Empowering you to manage symptoms independently.
Helping you return to activities that are meaningful to you.
Have Questions? We’re Here to Help!
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us via our contact form here. We’re here to support you every step of the way toward recovery and a better quality of life!
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