Concussion
Concussion
Concussions are very common injuries experienced in sports, motor vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, or falls. The most common symptoms include headache, nausea, visual disturbances, memory and concentration issues, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping.
Most people will recover from their concussion within the first few weeks, although some people may not recover in the average time frame and will experience “persistent post-concussion symptoms”.
Physiotherapists trained in Concussion Treatment are able to identify which areas are creating your symptoms and develop a treatment plan to get you feeling yourself again.
Peak Performance is affiliated with Complete Concussion Management and we use their advanced systems and tools to provide baseline testing and post-concussion management.
What is a Concussion?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) caused by rapid acceleration and deceleration of the brain within the skull. This sudden movement can result from a direct blow to the head, face, neck, or an impact elsewhere on the body that transmits force to the brain. The rapid motion stretches and twists brain tissues, leading to functional disturbances without necessarily causing structural damage.
Common symptoms include headaches, confusion, dizziness, nausea, and sensitivity to light or noise. These symptoms may appear immediately or develop over time. It’s important to note that loss of consciousness does not always occur with concussions. Proper diagnosis and management are crucial to ensure full recovery and prevent further injury
Contact Us
Concussion Symptoms
Cervical Spine
Whiplash injury to the neck can cause dizziness, headaches, and pain from injured joints and muscles. Studies have shown that the amount of force needed to cause a concussion is more than enough to also cause a whiplash injury. This means that neck pain and dysfunction will be a part of nearly every concussion.
Cervicogenic Dizziness
The neck plays a critical role in balance. Your brain receives input from the muscles and joints in your neck that give it information on position and posture. Dizziness coming from the neck is often described as imbalance or unsteadiness and often comes along with neck pain and stiffness. These symptoms are worsened with head movement
Cervicogenic Headaches
Although headaches have many possible sources in a concussion, neck dysfunction is a common cause. This is due to the whiplash force that goes through your neck in the accident. These headaches are usually felt throughout the upper neck, back of the head, the temples, and behind the eyes
Vestibular Dysfunction
Your vestibular system is your body’s balance system. After a concussion, this system may be impaired causing dizziness, imbalance, nausea, motion sensitivity. It may also cause issues stabilizing your vision while moving your head.
Some patients experience a condition called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). This happens when crystals in your inner ear are knocked loose.
Visual Disturbance
Many individuals will experience difficulty with certain eye movements after a concussion. This may result in blurred vision, double vision, difficulties reading or focusing your eyes. Often these symptoms can be resolved with exercises targeted at the specific eye movements that aren’t functioning properly.
Exercise Intolerance
It’s very common after a concussion for an individual to have difficulties with exercising. Or to experience a sharp increase in their symptoms when they do exercise. An exercise program done at the right intensity can help speed your recovery by improving blood circulation to your brain.