Concussion

Concussion Therapy

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a direct blow, head impact, shaking, or force to the head, neck, or upper body. Head trauma may happen during sports activities, recreational activities, falls, car accidents, or other injuries. Concussion therapy involves coordinated concussion care from healthcare professionals to manage concussion symptoms, support concussion recovery, and help patients gradually return to normal activities. The initial injury can temporarily affect the brain and nervous system even when there is no loss of consciousness. Recovery decisions should be handled with extreme care.

Concussion symptoms may begin immediately or appear over a few days. Physical symptoms can include headache, dizziness, blurred vision, balance problems, balance issues, neck pain, sensitivity to light or noise, nausea, and pain. Emotional symptoms may include irritability, anxiety, mood swings, or feeling unusually emotional. Other symptoms include difficulty concentrating, memory changes, mental fatigue, trouble sleeping, slurred speech, or feeling mentally “foggy.” Symptoms related to the vestibular system or inner ear may affect balance and motion. A family member may notice changes before the injured person does.

Emergency care is required for severe or worsening symptoms after a head injury, including increasing confusion, repeated vomiting, weakness, seizures, severe headache, inability to wake, or slurred speech. A doctor may use the person’s medical history, physical examination, risk factors, injury severity, and the Canadian CT Head Rule to decide whether a CT scan is needed to exclude a more serious brain injury. A CT scan does not diagnose an uncomplicated concussion.

Concussion management usually begins with 24 to 48 hours of relative physical and mental rest, followed by a gradual return to daily activities, mental activities, and light physical activity. Complete rest for too long may slow recovery. Patients should gradually add regular activities while staying below the level that causes more than a mild and brief increase in symptoms. If activities worsen symptoms significantly or symptoms get worse for a prolonged period, the activity should be reduced and restarted more gradually. Heart rate and exertion may be monitored when recommended by a healthcare professional.

Most patients recover fully within a few weeks, but persistent symptoms may continue for longer. The term Post-Concussion Syndrome is sometimes used when post-concussion symptoms such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, cognitive difficulty, or mood changes continue beyond the expected recovery period. Concussion treatment for persistent symptoms should be based on the person’s needs rather than a single standard program. Recent research supports active, individualized treatment instead of prolonged complete rest.

Physiotherapy may address neck pain, headaches, dizziness, balance issues, and return to physical activity. A physiotherapist may provide specific exercises, cervical treatment, vestibular rehabilitation, or graded aerobic activity. Other healthcare professionals may address vision, sleep, mood, pain, or cognitive concerns. Concussion care is injury management, not disease control, and treatment should remain within each provider’s professional scope.

People should avoid contact sports, high-risk recreational activities, and situations that could cause another head impact until they have completed an appropriate return-to-activity process. A second injury before full recovery may cause further injuries or more serious outcomes. The term second impact syndrome describes a rare and debated complication associated with another injury before recovery. Two concussions or repeated head impacts may also increase the risk of longer-lasting symptoms. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is associated with long-term exposure to repeated head impacts, but current evidence does not show that one concussion causes it.

At S.L. Hunter SpeechWorks, concussion therapy focuses on cognitive-communication concerns that affect daily activities. A Speech-Language Pathologist may assess attention, memory, processing speed, word finding, reading, writing, organization, and communication at school, work, or home.

Treatment may include the right education, pacing, environmental changes, compensatory strategies, and structured practice. Contact S.L. Hunter SpeechWorks to ask about concussion treatment, cognitive-communication assessment, and current service availability.