Concussion Management
What is Concussion Management?
Concussion management at our clinic includes everything from baseline concussion testing and concussion education to injury management and return to play planning.
All of our concussion management is done in conjunction with your medical physician as well as any other allied health care providers that you might see.
What is a Concussion?
Concussion is a complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain which is the result of an injury caused by a biomechanical force i.e., a direct blow to the head, neck or face or from a blow to another part of the body with a mechanical force transmitted to the head.
What are the signs of a Concussion?
Concussion symptoms can appear right after your injury while others might not appear for hours or even days after. Symptoms may include:
Physical Symptoms
Headache
Nausea and vomiting
Problems balancing
Delayed or slowed reaction time
Sensitivity to light and/or sound
Blurred vision
Slow speech
Clumsiness
Sleep Symptoms
Sleeping more than usual
Sleeping less than usual
Difficulty falling asleep
Feeling tired, drowsy or having no energy
Cognitive Symptoms
Difficulty thinking clearly or “foggy” feeling
Problems concentrating
Feeling slowed down
Issues remembering things (especially new information)
Trouble expressing thoughts and finding the right words
Mood Symptoms
Irritable
Sad, depressed, tearful
More emotional than normal
Nervous or anxious
Symptoms can worsen over a short period; it is not uncommon for new symptoms to appear a few days after your injury. Tasks that involve a lot of concentration, like sports, studying, or playing video games, may cause concussion symptoms to appear, reappear, or get worse.
Following a suspected concussion, it is recommended that you consult a Medical Physician (Family GP or Sports Doctor) as early as possible for medical evaluation. Most sport-related concussion injuries do not necessarily require emergent care. It is also important that the athlete remain under close observation over the first few hours following their injury, and should not be left alone or allowed to drive. Emergency evaluation is warranted in situations of deteriorating mental status such as increasing confusion and difficulty recognizing people or places. Other symptoms requiring immediate medical attention include worsening headache, worsening nausea or vomiting, and excessive drowsiness or lethargy.
Concussion Assessment
Our physiotherapists will conduct a thorough post-injury evaluation in order to gain a complete picture of your injury and how it has impacted you. This includes a detailed interview in order to obtain information on your past health history and current injury. This will be followed by a thorough examination provides us with insight into the severity of your injury, as well as specific impairments that may need to be addressed as part of an ongoing management strategy. This portion of testing may include a combination of the following:
Neurocognitive testing
Balance testing
Strength and Coordination testing
Screening of visual motor skills
Vestibular (or equilibrium) testing
Gait assessment
Generalized neurological screen
Orthopedic assessment of secondary injuries (e.g. neck, shoulders)
How do you treat a Concussion?
While physical and cognitive rest is the mainstay of concussion care in the initial stages, having a health professional guide you through this step-by-step may prove to be invaluable.
Rehab strategies may include any one or a combination of the following and are specific to each individual patient:
Individualized resting strategies and home instruction
Recommendations around employment/academic demands
Manual therapy for associated complaints (e.g. neck pain, whiplash, etc.)
Visual motor rehabilitation
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy
Physical exertion testing and exercise plans for return-to-sport
At Sparwood Chiropractic & Wellness, we believe that education and prevention are the key to reducing the negative effects of concussions. We offer FREE educational training and presentations as well as baseline concussion testing to any interested teams, organizations, leagues, and healthcare providers. To book an education session please contact us.
