Concussions are one of the most common forms of mild brain injury. A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that may occur due to direct trauma to the head from vehicle accidents, falls, or sports injuries, which often lead to deficits in the cognitive, motor, and sensory organs and other body parts. Brain injury can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of damage.  

Concussions affect brain function and may lead to severe complications in the future, hence the need for concussion management in Barrie, ON, which refers to the series of treatment interventions and rehabilitation techniques that are employed to treat and manage the symptoms and effects of concussions. Physiotherapy is an integral part of concussion management. It proves to be effective in aiding quick and effective recovery from concussions. Therefore, this article will examine concussion management in the Concept of Movement Physiotherapy.

What are the Causes of Concussion?

A concussion occurs when there is a violent shift of the brain in the skull. Brain lubricant (cerebrospinal fluid) normally surrounds the brain as a cushion between it and the skull’s hard exterior. However, traumatic events may cause the brain to bounce, twist, and collide with the insides of the skull, which damages brain cells and causes abnormal chemical changes in the brain. 

Common causes of concussions include motor accidents, falls, direct blows to the head, physical assault, contact sports injuries, etc. While a concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury, it can lead to bleeding in the brain, confusion, prolonged drowsiness, and even death. 

While a concussion can happen to anyone, some people are more at risk than others. Generally, adolescents are at higher risk of suffering concussions than people of other age groups because of their developing brains. Other risk factors for developing concussions include participation in high-risk sports, refusal to follow safety instructions, neglect of safety equipment, military combat, physical abuse, previous history of concussions, etc. 

Symptoms of a Concussion?

How do you know when you have a concussion? The following are the most common symptoms that indicate that someone could be suffering from a concussion:

• Headache
• Confusion
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Temporary loss of consciousness
• Persistent ringing in the ears
• Memory loss
• Fatigue
• Mood swings
• Vision and speech problems
• Seizures or convulsions
• Bruises behind the ears or around the eyes, etc.

While some concussion symptoms may appear a few minutes after an injury to the head, others may not manifest until hours or days later. To diagnose a concussion, your healthcare provider may ask several questions about your head injury and the preceding events. Your healthcare provider may also order a neurological exam to check your hearing, strength, neck muscles, vision, balance, eye movement, coordination, reaction to light, reflexes, and neurological function. You may also be required to take verbal, written, or computerized tests to check your cognitive functions. In conclusion, imaging tests, such as MRI or CT scan, may be used to evaluate the condition of your brain. 

What Does Concussion Management Entail?

Physiotherapy is a healthcare practice that helps restore movement and function in people affected by injury, disability, and other conditions. A concussion is a neurological condition that may cause severe pain and impair motor control and other physical functions. Therefore, physiotherapy is an integral aspect of concussion management because it can treat and manage the symptoms and further complications that may accompany concussions. The following is what physiotherapy in Barrie, ON, for concussion management, entails:

Assessment and Diagnosis

The first step that a physiotherapist takes towards concussion management is a comprehensive evaluation of the patient and situation after the head injury. The physiotherapist then uses the assessment results to determine the extent of damage to the brain and the organs it controls. These include vestibular function assessment, balance testing, and other objective measures to examine your balance, coordination, and strength.

Treatment Interventions

A physiotherapist’s treatment interventions for concussion management address the symptoms 

of concussions and also rehabilitate the patient until they are back to their pre-injury state. Physical symptoms of concussions include headache, neck pain, muscle tension, and other conditions that may cause severe pain and discomfort. Physiotherapy techniques that treat and manage the physical symptoms of concussion include: 

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy, also known as manipulative therapy, is a physical treatment method that physiotherapists in Barrie, ON, use to treat and manage musculoskeletal pain and other conditions. This treatment method may also be employed to deal with painful physical symptoms and promote soft tissue healing during concussion management. 

Education and Support

Physiotherapists provide self-management strategies that help their patients to recover quickly from the symptoms of concussion. They also offer support that manages symptoms and prevent further complications. 

Physiotherapy rehabilitation techniques that physiotherapists in Barrie employ during concussion management include:

Vestibular Rehabilitation

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is a physiotherapy technique that addresses issues with the inner ear, brain, eyes, muscles, and nerves that lead to vertigo and imbalance. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy can improve gait and balance function while reducing dizziness after a concussion. 

Oculomotor Exercises

A physiotherapist may include oculomotor exercises in their concussion rehabilitation plan to improve visual function and reduce symptoms of visual disturbances. Gaze stability exercises and other modalities are oculomotor exercises that help to enhance and maintain one’s vision after a concussion. 

Other rehabilitation techniques for concussion management include cardiovascular conditioning, neck rehabilitation, exercise therapy, stress management, etc. Concussion management with physiotherapy has different stages. These stages vary depending on the concussion victim (children, adolescents, adults, athletes, etc). However, a typical concussion management program involves an acute phase, a subacute phase, and a recovery phase that lasts anywhere from 21 days to several months. 

Conclusion

A concussion is a mild brain injury that comes with physical symptoms that can cause pain and reduce an individual’s overall quality of life. Concussions, if not managed, can lead to severe complications that cause more health issues. However, physiotherapy treats and deals with concussions through concussion management. If you are suffering from concussions, you should consider undergoing concussion management at Concept of Movement Physiotherapy.