Fast-Track Concussion Recovery with Physical Therapy
Concussions are one of the most prevalent injuries in the US, but they are often difficult to diagnose. There are as many as 3.8 million concussions annually. The causes can range from auto accidents and sports, to falls and recreational activities.
Regardless of the cause, concussions can be severely debilitating causing lost wages, employment, playing time, and falling behind in school.
Concussions are most common among children and teens 17 years and under with boys having twice likelihood. Female athletes, however, are more likely to report longer lasting symptoms. Contact sports like football and soccer have higher rates of concussion and brain injury than other sports
Common symptoms of a concussion include:
- Headaches
- Neck pain
- Dizziness
- Blurry vision
- Nausea/vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Feeling confused or disorientated
- Loss of memory surrounding recent events or the injury
- Brief loss of consciousness
What should I do if I’ve had a head injury and suspect a concussion?
Reach out to your physical therapist and schedule a consultation. They will help you determine the severity of your injury and recommend additional medical evaluation if needed.
Most people recover within a few weeks, but the more severe the symptoms the longer it can take to reach a full recovery. A history of previous head injury can result in longer recovery times. During the recovery process many people can experience brain fog, difficulty thinking/speaking, light and sound sensitivity, and emotional symptoms such as anger, anxiety, frustration, and irritability.
How can physical therapy help?
A licensed physical therapist can help screen you, after a head injury, for symptoms of a concussion. They can help identify more serious complications that may need referral to a medical doctor or specialist.
They can help identify movement-related impairments, balance/coordination issues, and physiological factors that may impair recovery. The physical therapist can help educate you on the most current recovery strategies to get you back to your activities as quickly as possible.
Your physical therapist will focus on aerobic exercises, balance training, strength and flexibility exercises to help manage your symptoms. Dry needling treatments can augment the treatment and help to reduce symptoms like chronic headaches and neck pain.
Physical Therapy Works
Many studies show that physical therapy leads to:
- Reduced pain
- Faster return to normal activities
- Reduced need for medication or procedures