A concussion is a form of brain injury resulting from either a direct or indirect blow/force to the head, face or jaw that causes an alteration in brain function. You can think of a concussion as an energy crisis in the brain. Your brain is busy trying to heal itself and needs all the nutrition and rest it can get. When you introduce even a seemingly easy task like taking a shower, your brain can be overwhelmed and will show this by triggering any number of symptoms (examples include headache, dizziness, nausea). Other common symptoms can include: balance problems, fatigue, sleep disturbances, visual disturbance, mental “fogginess”, mood changes, memory and concentration problems
An individualized assessment will help your therapist learn what symptoms are impacting your daily life. This assessment ensures that they can create a plan to help you get back to the activities that are most important to you.
Treatment will be individually designed to limit the amount of impairment and speed up recovery as much as possible. It can include education, resting strategies, treatment for associated neck and musculoskeletal complaints, vestibular/balance/coordination rehabilitation, vision exercises, and planning graduated return to activity.
Anybody with a suspected concussion injury should seek medical assistance immediately from a physician, and then arrange an assessment with a qualified health care provider to assess the individual effects of the injury. Marguerite Daubney, Physiotherapist and Kathryn Freeman Dunikowski, Physiotherapist physiotherapists at Best Health Physiotherapy have dedicated themselves to extra training in concussion management and are able to provide individualized, appropriate post- concussion treatment and rehabilitation.