Concussions

Loss of consciousness is thought to occur in less than 10% of concussions

HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD ANY OF THESE CONCUSSION MYTHS

CLICK ON THE MYTH TO EXPAND AN EXPLANATION

In many cases there is actually little to no contact with the head. A concussion is a response of force. It can occur after an indirect blow somewhere else on the body that results in the head and brain moving rapidly back and forth. Fact: you can sustain a concussion from falling on your butt!

Loss of consciousness only occurs in approximately 10% of concussions. Fact: Loss of consciousness does not mean the concussion is more “severe” or that recovery will be longer

Often individuals can feel “out of it” for a split second then think they are fine. Symptoms can be delayed for hours, days and even weeks! Delayed symptoms might include light and noise sensitivity, increased irritability, fatigue, depression and difficulty sleeping.

It has long been believed that it is dangerous to let people with concussions sleep. The fear  was they’ll fall into a coma or lose consciousness.  In actuality, sleep is actually beneficial in addition to physical and mental rest for the first 48-72 hours. Always have an evaluation from a healthcare professional to rule out any warning signs that need immediate attention

CURIOUS WHAT AN APPOINTMENT WOULD LOOK LIKE?

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?

A concussion can be simply defined as a disruption in neurological functioning following a significant impact to the head or elsewhere on the body. This causes an imbalance in molecules within the brain cells as well as an energy deficit (The energy molecule required for cell function is known as ATP). There has also been shown to be large reductions in blood flow to the brain immediately after concussive impact.

COMMON QUESTIONS

During the 48-72 hours you should be resting mentally and physically. After this time has passed and you feel that some of your symptoms have decreased it is safe to do short bursts of  light physical activity such as a short 10-15 minute walk or stationary bike ride. This type of zero risk, low impact activity that does not cause your symptoms to worsen or any new symptoms to appear can be very helpful for your brain’s healing.

Each concussion and each brain is very different therefore multiple factors come into effect when it comes to healing times.A light hit to the head can cause a very different set of symptoms and healing times between two individuals. Doing activities that cause your symptoms to flare up will prolong your healing time.

The short answer, yes. There is slightly higher risk of getting another concussion once you have sustained one. How ever each concussion is different just like each person is unique. Therefore, the amount of impact or prediction of one concussion on future concussions requires more research.  You can help minimize long lasting complications by allowing yourself full time to heal before returning to your full normal life. 

If you are safe with your concussion recovery and assure that you have healed 100% before returning to full activity you are generally safe to return to your sport after receiving a concussion. A couple factors such as severity, healing time and number of concussions can play a factor but as long as you have allowed time to heal completely you are generally safe to return to sport.

Every concussion you receive puts you at slightly higher risk for another concussion meaning that smaller and smaller impacts can result in a concussion. Not always, but sometimes, with each new concussion the symptoms become more severe and take longer to heal. If you are at your 3-5th concussion and you are still symptomatic after 2 weeks and don’t seem to be healing on your own, it could be time to look into other options to help reduce risk of exposure to concussions and limit long term negative effects.

Our therapists have various specialized courses and education to help you with your concussion. Our treatment plan will be individualized for you with your specific situation and goals in mind. The treatment plan will be a combination of client education, manual therapy and a home program to give you a well rounded plan of action for your full recovery.