Three Components of Post Concussion Syndrome and Related Symptoms
To ensure the best outcomes, it is essential to perform a concussion test to determine the extent of the brain injury. While no two concussions are the exactly alike, the same three components of brain health must be assessed. Our experienced concussion specialists are guided by research to accurately diagnose your injury, and come up with the best treatment plans to ensure you have a smooth concussion recovery.
What is PHYSIOLOGIC
The PHYSIOLOGIC component refers to injury at the cellular (neuron) level. Symptoms generally involve fatigue and headaches with cognitive and/or physical activity, brain fog, nausea, light and sound sensitivity, dizziness and poor concentration.
What is VESTIBULO-OCULAR
The VESTIBULO-OCULAR component refers to involvement of the visual and balance system. Growing evidence in the research demonstrates the importance of evaluating concussions/mild traumatic brain injury using these biomarkers. Symptoms can include blurred or double vision, difficulty with tracking moving objects and difficulty with reading.
What is CERVICOGENIC
The CERVICOGENIC component refers to damage to structures of the neck and how they contribute to symptoms which include neck pain and headaches.
Treatments at Our Advanced Concussion Clinic
Vision Therapy
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Transcranial Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Eye Exercises
Somatosensory Evoked Potential
Ear Insufflation
Non-surgical Decompression Therapy
Nutritional Recommendations
Auditory Therapy
Laser Guided Proprioceptive Feedback
CONCUSSION TREATMENT IN OTTAWA
Proper concussion diagnosis and treatment is complex and essential for proper recovery and lasting brain health. At Broadview Spine and Health Centre, we are expert brain injury and concussion specialists. Our years of experience with various forms of injury and treatment, combined with our state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, makes Broadview the right choice in Ottawa for treatment of concussions & brain injury.
If you’re experiencing moderate, severe, or mild concussion symptoms, contact us today. We’ll work with you to reach an accurate concussion diagnosis and develop a thorough course of treatment that promotes good brain health and bolsters your chances for a full recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Most single concussions have 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 be longer. Take care during recovery, because 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