Post-Concussion Physical Therapy
Concussions are unfortunately a common part of some sports. Recently there has been much more discussion about preventing concussions and recognizing them when they happen.
This is great, but at Wagner PT & Performance, we want to see much more discussion about treatment. Many athletes still think they don't need Physical Therapy after a concussion. While this might be true in some cases, the right treatment can speed up recovery, get you back to your sport faster and help prevent future issues. Keep reading to learn more about why post-concussion Physical Therapy is so important.
Post-Concussion Symptoms
A concussion is a mild brain injury.
It sounds scary to put it that way, but it’s the truth. Because of this, symptoms can be very different from person to person. We've seen everything from more typical issues like dizziness, nausea, light sensitivity, headaches, etc. to less common issues like visual tracking problems, brain fog, decreased activity tolerance and more.
It can be difficult to identify and track symptoms after a concussion so it is very important athletes work with someone who has a robust testing and tracking protocol. This means being well-versed in assessment of the neck, visual system, vestibular system, coordination, neurological system as well as looking at general strength and exercise tolerance.
Physical Therapists who specialize in treating concussions are able to assess and manage all of these areas and this is exactly what we do at Wagner PT & Performance.
Post-Concussion Physical Therapy Speeds Up Return To Sport
A brain injury is nothing to mess around with.
Even if an athlete's concussion symptoms are very mild, there are certain treatment protocols that can help ensure a full recovery and help prevent any additional concussions.
Many concussion symptoms will resolve on their own. This is obviously a good thing, but can lead to under treatment of concussions. Even if an athlete's headaches, visual issues, concentration problems, neck pain, light sensitivity, etc. go back to baseline on their own, a good treatment program can speed things up and potentially uncover less obvious issues that need to be addressed for a safe return to sport.
Also in the time an athlete is not practicing or playing, their conditioning and sport readiness will suffer. We focus on keeping athletes training as much as possible so they are prepared to return to sport when symptoms and recovery timelines allow. Don't just sit around and do nothing when you are recovering from a concussion! This will prolong your recovery unnecessarily.
Post-Concussion Physical Therapy Can Reduce Chance of New Injuries
Obviously preventing another concussion (especially soon after the initial injury) is a huge part of the rehab process.
Sometimes the most important thing we do for our concussion patients is facilitate communication between parents, coaches and other medical professionals to help keep everyone on the same page. For example, we know that metabolic healing after a concussion takes about a month. It is possible to return to play before this point, but it is important to have a nuanced discussion about risks and benefits.
We also know that orthopedic injury risk can go up when returning to sports after a concussion. This seems to be due to changes in reaction time, coordination and integration of various perceptual systems (visual, vestibular, etc.) and can be greatly improved when athletes complete specific return to sport protocols that integrate sport simulation.
Returning to sport after concussion requires a comprehensive approach.
Post-Concussion Physical Therapy In Lakeville, Massachusetts
At Wagner PT & Performance, we are specially trained to assess and manage concussions. With the help of years of experience, special training and thorough literature reviews we have built an assessment and management framework that takes the entire athlete experience into account. We also work closely with other medical professionals and coaches to ensure return to play is safe and effective.
All our treatments are 1:1 for a full hour to ensure each athlete gets what they need.
If you or someone you know is dealing with a concussion, don't leave your recovery up to chance.
Check out our post-concussion rehab services HERE
Here are some more concussion resources we like: