Concussion

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury. These most often occur with a blow to the head, but it is important to realize that it is possible to sustain a concussion without hitting your head. Concussions are often associated with sports such as football or hockey, falls or car accidents.

The brain can be injured due to contacting the inside of the skull or when nerves are stretched and stressed during injury to the head and neck.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

• Visual disturbance
• Headaches
• Difficulty with concentration and memory
• Feeling off balance
• Feeling irritable
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Difficulty sleeping
• Neck pain
• Others

*Signs and symptoms can be very different from person to person and will vary based on the force and location of the impact*

HOW CAN PHYSICAL THERAPY HELP?

It is very important to be evaluated after a concussion, as deficits can be varied. PT helps by identifying specific symptoms and developing a graded exposure/exercise program to return you to normal daily tasks. With athletes, this process also includes working with MDs, athletic trainers and coaches to ensure safe return to sport.