Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury brought on by a hit to the head or by a sudden acceleration or deceleration of the head. They are well-known brain injuries that can result in a variety of symptoms, including headaches, nausea, dizziness, and disorientation as well as problems with memory and attention.
Concussion exercises are a type of physical therapy intended to aid in recovery from the effects of concussions. Exercises for concussions are designed to facilitate the brain’s recovery by progressively boosting levels of mental and physical activity.
TREATMENTS FOR CONCUSSION
Vision Therapy
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Transcranial Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Eye Exercises
Somatosensory Evoked Potential
Ear Insufflation
Non-surgical Decompression Therapy
Non-surgical decompression therapy can resolve head and neck pain
Non-surgical Decompression Therapy
Nutritional Recommendations
Auditory Therapy
Laser Guided Proprioceptive Feedback
PHYSICAL EXERCISES
Physical activity can play a significant role in concussion healing, but it should be done with caution and under a doctor’s supervision. Concussions can result in a variety of physical symptoms, including headaches, vertigo, and balance issues, which can limit one’s capacity for physical activity.
Even after the individual has fully recovered, physical activity might be a useful strategy for accelerating healing and recovery. Exercise can help to increase the brain’s blood flow and oxygenation, which can aid in tissue healing and repair. Also, it can aid in restoring balance, coordination and kinesthesia, which can all be harmed by a concussion.
According to their particular symptoms and requirements, a concussed individual will need particular kinds of physical activities. Exercises that target improving balance and proprioception, for instance, may be suggested for concussion recovery if the person is having balance issues. Exercises that are low-impact and don’t increase symptoms may be chosen if the person is suffering from headaches. Eye tracking exercises, balance drills like standing on one leg, and head motions like side-to-side head turns are a few drills that may be used for at-home exercises.
It’s crucial to remember that starting a physical activity program should be done gradually and with a doctor’s supervision. Overworking oneself might worsen symptoms and slow recovery. Also, until the person has fully healed, some activities, including contact sports or those with a high risk of falls, may need to be avoided.
COGNITIVE EXERCISES
To assist people in recovering from the cognitive impairments that might happen after a concussion, cognitive activities are frequently employed in concussion rehabilitation. These mental challenges and mental stimulation exercises are made to enhance cognitive function and hasten the healing process.
Memory games, problem-solving exercises, concentration drills, and language drills are just a few examples of the diverse activities that can be included in cognitive exercises. The particular exercises that are advised for a person will depend on their unique symptoms and demands and are frequently adapted to their level of cognitive function.
For instance, memory activities like memorizing a list of phrases, remembering a list of instructions, or remembering a series of events may be provided to someone with memory problems. Concussion exercises that demand sustained attention, like counting the number of times a certain sound is heard or locating a single object within a wider visual, may be given to someone with attention deficit disorder. Cognitive concussion exercises that can be done at home include things like word puzzles, memory tests, and journaling.
Although they can be performed at home, cognitive exercises are normally supervised by a medical practitioner as part of a thorough concussion rehabilitation program. The exercises are often carried out in a structured and progressive way, beginning with simpler tasks and progressively getting more challenging as the person’s cognitive function increases.
It’s crucial to remember that cognitive workouts shouldn’t be too taxing or uncomfortable. To ensure the safety and efficacy of concussion rehab, cognitive exercises should be implemented gradually and under the direction of a healthcare practitioner.
VISUAL EXERCISES
To help people recover from perception difficulties that can occur after a concussion, visual activities are frequently utilized in concussion recovery. Eye tracking, focusing, and visual perception are just a few of the visual processes that might be impacted by concussions. Targeting these areas and enhancing visual function are the goals of visual workouts.
A variety of tasks, including eye-tracking exercises, visual memory tests, and perceptual exercises, can be included in visual workouts. The particular exercises that are advised for a person will depend on their unique symptoms and demands and are frequently adapted to their level of visual function.
For instance, exercises that require a person with poor eye-tracking skills to follow moving objects with their eyes or switch their gaze between things may be provided to them. Exercises that demand recalling and remembering visual data may be provided to someone with visual memory problems. Recognizing forms, colours, and patterns is one of the tasks that may be provided to a person with perceptual deficiencies. Focusing on a moving object, keeping the eyes on a target, or moving the eyes along a sequence of targets in various directions are a few concussion exercises that can be practiced at home.
Although they can be performed at home, visual exercises are normally supervised by a healthcare provider as part of a thorough concussion rehabilitation program. The exercises are often carried out in a structured and progressive way, beginning with simpler tasks and progressively getting more challenging as the person’s visual function improves.
It’s vital to remember that visual workouts shouldn’t be too taxing or uncomfortable. To ensure their safety and efficacy, visual exercises should be started gradually and under the direction of a healthcare practitioner.
3 GROUPS OF CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Physical Signs
Concussions bring on a cluster of physical symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, stumbling, slurring speech, ears ringing, blurred vision and more. These are usually the first signs that one would experience or observe in a concussion.
Internal & Intangible Signs
Beyond the more apparent physical symptoms, many signs of concussion are things that are “felt” or displayed in more subtle ways, often with delayed effect. Concentration & memory issues, disorientation, lack of balance, trouble sleeping, sensitivity to light, etc.
Child with Concussion
Perhaps your child suffered a concussion while playing sports, with friends, in the house or at school. Whether or not you witnessed the injury, it’s vital to watch for signs including the standard adult ones as well excessive crying, loss of usual interest, etc.
WHAT TREATMENTS ARE USED TO TAKE CARE OF CONCUSSIONS?
The severity of the injury and the patient’s particular symptoms will determine the concussion’s course of therapy. Treatment for concussions often consists of rest, symptom management, and a slow return to activity. These are a few typical concussion treatments:
Rest
This is an important part of concussion treatment, and doctors may advise patients to reduce their physical and mental activities in the initial stages of recovery. This can entail taking time off from work or school, avoiding strenuous physical activity, and minimizing screen time.
Symptom Management
Medical practitioners may suggest drugs or other treatments to treat concussion symptoms, such as headaches, vertigo, or anxiety. To help with symptom management, rest, fluids, and over-the-counter painkillers may be useful.
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Exercises for vestibular rehabilitation can aid with balance and can also lessen vertigo and dizziness. These drills could entail head motions, eye tracking drills, and balancing drills.
Gradual Return to Activity
Those who have suffered concussions should gradually get back to their regular activities, such as work or sports, with the help of a medical practitioner. Preventing more damage and allowing the brain to fully heal are the objectives.
It’s vital to remember that concussion treatment should always be carried out under the supervision of a medical practitioner who can advise on suitable treatments and track development over time.
WHAT EXPERTISE IS NEEDED TO PROPERLY HANDLE CONCUSSIONS?
Concussion exercises and treatments are often administered and monitored by those with specialist knowledge in concussion rehabilitation. Concussion rehabilitation specialists in the medical field could include:
- Neurologists are experts in identifying and treating illnesses that impact the neurological system, such as concussions. They may collaborate with victims of concussions to create a treatment strategy, keep track of symptoms, and offer advice on suitable exercises.
- Neuropsychologists are experts in diagnosing and treating cognitive and behavioural issues brought on by brain injury, including concussions. To aid patients in recovering from a concussion, they may conduct cognitive testing and create individualized rehabilitation programs.
- Physical therapists are experts in the diagnosis and care of physical issues brought on by sickness or injury, including concussions. They could collaborate with patients to create therapy regimens and exercises to enhance mobility, strength, and balance.
- Occupational therapists are experts in assessing and treating issues with daily activities that may be impaired by a concussion, such as dressing, eating, and driving. They might collaborate with people to create plans for handling day-to-day tasks and enhancing overall performance.
- Speech-language pathologists are experts in evaluating and treating issues with swallowing and communication that may be caused by a concussion. They might collaborate with people to create workouts to enhance speech, language, and swallowing abilities.
Healthcare practitioners who work with patients who have had a concussion should possess specialist knowledge in addition to an up-to-date understanding of best practices and research in concussion rehabilitation. They should also be able to create tailored treatment programs based on the particular requirements and objectives of each person, as well as have expertise working with concussed patients.
WHY SHOULD YOU WORK WITH A SPECIALIST WHEN PERFORMING CONCUSSION EXERCISES?
Working with a medical expert to treat concussions is crucial for several reasons:
- A medical expert can correctly identify a concussion and rule out other, more serious disorders that might present with comparable symptoms, like a skull fracture or brain hemorrhaging. For the patient to receive the best care and to ensure that they are not in danger of additional injuries, an accurate diagnosis is crucial.
- Based on each person’s particular symptoms and needs, a healthcare practitioner can create an individualized treatment plan for concussion symptoms. Rest, physical therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and other interventions can be added to this.
- As concussion symptoms evolve, a medical expert can keep an eye on them and modify treatment as necessary. Monitoring symptoms regularly can also assist in determining when a person is ready to resume participating in activities like work or sports.
- A medical expert can offer advice on what to avoid doing while recovering and how to gradually get back to your regular activities without running the danger of subsequent harm. They can also offer advice on how to avoid getting concussed again.
- Partnering with a healthcare expert can give you access to a variety of services, such as specialized tools, peer support networks, and neighbourhood resources for concussion recovery.
DO YOU NEED HELP RECOVERING FROM A CONCUSSION?
The expertly trained and fully qualified professionals at Broadview Spine & Health Centre are on hand with novel, evidence-based strategies for neurological rehabilitation to ensure you return to full health and capability.
Frequently asked questions
Sustaining a single concussion, in many cases, results in a straight-forward recovery with few complications. However, for those who have suffered multiple concussions, especially when the original has not fully healed, the recovery time can grow exponentially. Take care during recovery as while you might feel better, the concussion could still need time to fully heal.
- We utilize quantifiable concussion evaluation tools
- We measure eye movements and balance
- We take care to ensure your recovery is objective, not subjective
A major side effect from sustaining a concussion injury is cervicogenic pain or headaches, which is focused in the neck area. The challenge for doctors is neck pain does not always point to a problem within the neck, but could be a result of spine or eye misalignment.
- Concussions cause eye misalignment, leading to head tilt
- Neck pain is a flag for helping identify contributing issues
- Our treatment is built to help protect your long-term recovery
A common symptom for those who have suffered concussions and experiencing symptoms of post-concussion syndrome includes fatigue. Fatigue can come from many different factors. However, concussions build fatigue symptoms on a cellular level from the damage sustained in a concussion, interrupting your body’s ability to build and use energy.
- Fatigue from concussions is a result from calcium leaks
- Other fatigue could stem from problems with thyroids or anemia
- Fatigue problems can take some time to fully recover from
Post-concussion syndrome is a complex condition that requires a lot of care and time to fully recover from. You could experience significant fatigue, inability to effectively concentrate, headaches, poor balance, and loss of fine motor control. These and more are the result of concussion damage to three major areas in your body, which all require the care our clinic can provide:
- Physical damage the cell wall of the brain
- Damage to the motor systems of the eyes and balance
- Cervucigenic symptoms such as pain in the neck
Broadview Health Centre offers specialized equipment and technology that helps us diagnose problems and treat them effectively in regards to concussions and other mild-traumatic brain injuries. These tools are a mix of physical tests and electrical monitors working in tandem to give evaluations of the body’s control over balance and motor control, giving us invaluable information on a patents condition by:
- Evaluating the body’s ability to balance on flat and uneven surfaces
- Balance when a patents head is turning in various directions
- Building information on how a concussion effects an individual
Broadview Spine & Health Centre utilized state of the art diagnosis equipment to allow us to gain quality information on how to approach treatment to every patent’s unique symptoms. A Videonystagmography allows us to get a fine-tuned reading of eye movements on video and with graphical representation.
- Helps us identify where damage is located in the brain
- Helps develop a customized program for the patient
- Provides conclusive evidence for brain injury symptoms