A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that can damage brain tissue and disrupt normal functioning of your brain. It is caused by a jolt, blow, or bump to the head that causes the brain to move violently inside the skull.
Concussions are normally caused by:
- Falls
- Motor vehicle accidents (head impact or whiplash)
- Sports injury
- Assault
- Any forceful impact to the head or neck
There are many symptoms you may experience which can affect your physical, mental and emotional well-being.
- Physical – Somatic
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Poor Balance
- Light and noise sensitivity
- Fatigue
- Cognitive
- Fogginess
- Poor concentration
- Memory loss
- Confusion
- Slow responses
- Sleep Disturbances
- Drowsy
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Sleeping more or less
- Emotional – Mood
- Irritability
- Depression
- Nervousness
- Mood Swings
- Uncontrollable, unpredictable emotions
Here at Excel Physical Therapy, our therapists have advanced education in vestibular rehabilitation and are trained to perform evaluations of those with head injuries to assess the relative involvement of several different clinical subtypes of concussion that can lead to prolonged symptoms. Our goal is to:
- Reduce dizziness and improve balance
- Headache treatment
- Rest and recovery
- Return to normal activity, work or sport
There are specific guidelines to follow in order to return to sport safely following a concussion and your physical therapist can help you navigate these to optimize your recovery and get you back to your sport, work or normal activities safely