A concussion which is also referred to as a mild traumatic brain injury which results from either an indirect or direct blow to the head. This type of brain injury can cause effects that can be long-lasting on the brain tissue and can even cause chemical imbalances in the brain. This type of injury is not to be taken lightly, it is considered a serious injury by health care providers and it is important to seek treatment if your symptoms do not self-resolve after two weeks.
What are some of the signs or symptoms of a concussion?
Symptoms
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Unsteadiness or loss of balance
Signs
- Loss of consciousness or impaired conscious state
- Slow to answer questions
- Slurred speech
- Easily distracted, poor concentrations
Sleep Symptoms
- Sleeping more or less than usual
- Feeling drowsy, tired or no energy
Cognitive Symptoms
- Feeling foggy
- Difficulty thinking clearly
- Feeling slowed down
Mood
- Irritable
- Sad, depressed
- Tearful
- More emotional than normal
- Nervous or anxious
And many other signs or symptoms so it’s important to be assessed if you suspect a concussion…
How can we help as physiotherapists?
After your injury at your first visit, we’ll gather from our thorough assessment an understanding of the symptoms and history involved in your injury. This information will be gathered from obtaining a medical history and performing a full assessment of your body. We will assess your, head, neck, and if deemed necessary perform some vestibular-oculomotor and vestibular screening (which help to understand if your vision, movement and balance have been altered or effected due to your injury) – it may be determined that it may be necessary to check your blood pressure, heart rate and/or your neurocognitive state.
Once we gather the full extent of your injury a treatment plan will be developed. If your neck or spine has been affected by the injury your treatment can be addressed with a physiotherapist. A physiotherapist can help regaining strength in your neck muscles and they can perform manual therapy to ensure the joints are moving well. Physiotherapists are trained to perform myofascial release techniques that help to ensure good mobility of the surrounding soft tissue. Our passion and is to heal the body
Additionally, outside of the care you receive at VanCity Physio, we will work collaboratively as a team with your physician and other health-care professionals to get you back to yourself!
Book a consultation today: https://vancityphysio.janeapp.com/
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