Concussion refers to a type of traumatic brain injury in which the brain strikes the skull as a result of a direct blow to the head or from a whiplash reaction.  It is usually caused by a blow to the head or body from a motor vehicle accident, a fall, contact during sports or even a household or work accident. The majority of symptoms resolve in 7-10 days (Aubrey et al, 2002).

Following the brain injury, symptoms could be immediate or take time to develop and can include but are not limited to:

Unfortunately no such medication exists to decrease the side-effects from Post-Concussion Syndrome. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication to limit the headache and muscle pain associated but other symptoms could remain. However, research has revealed that participating in physical therapy and utilizing tools and exercises with vestibular therapy could be beneficial to decrease your symptoms and return to your activities of daily life.

“Post-Concussion Syndrome is treatable. The days of sitting in a dark room waiting for the concussion to heal are over.”

Physical Therapy can help alleviate symptoms of Post-Concussion Syndrome and return you to work, school, your sport, or daily activities faster. Upon your initial appointment one of our trained physical therapists will evaluate how your concussion occurred, what symptoms you currently have, and what your goals are. As stated above, concussions have a plethora of different symptoms that can occur and all present differently. Returning to a contact sport may require more balance and eye tracking exercises, while returning to work may require more focus and concentration exercises. Exercises and treatments are encompassed within your plan of care using our orthopedic facility and aquatic therapy services.

At Dedham Health Physical Therapy, we utilized a two pronged approach of exercises on land and in our heated indoor pool to streamline a program designed to treat your symptoms and achieve your goals. As mentioned above all concussions are different requiring different exercises and requiring different timetables to treat. However, a small sample size of exercises you could perform are below:

1.) Brock String Gaze Stabilization: Starting Position: Tie one end of the string on a door knob and hold the other end at tip of your nose. Position the 3 beads at the doorknob end, the middle, and near nose. Adjust the near bead so that it is as close to your nose as possible (goal of 4 inches) while being able to see the bead clearly. Movement: Focus on one bead then switch focus to the next bead. Keep jumping your focus from bead to bead. Tip: While focusing on a bead you should notice an illusion of 2 strings crossing with the intersection at the bead.

2.) Balance Exercises with changing surfaces and outside perturbations: Begin in a standing position on foam pad with your feet shoulder width apart. While balancing toss ball back and forth 30 seconds.

3.) Upper Trap Stretching in Sound/Noise Reduction setting: In a seated position bring your hand on the side you wish to stretch behind your back. Place your other hand on top of your head and gently pull your head to the side, away from the side you wish to stretch. Hold 30 seconds

These are only three examples of a large group of exercises that could be prescribed to you. Post-Concussion Syndrome Physical Therapy treatment will often elicit symptoms and should only be performed in the correct reps, sets and manner that a trained Therapist prescribes. Symptoms returning during initial Physical Therapy is normal, however limiting occurrence will allow for faster progress.

Dedham Health Physical Therapy has a team of skilled Therapists that can utilize these interventions to help you return to your daily activities. We take the time to truly understand the goals and motivations you have and streamline a program to meet your specific needs. You will receive a comprehensive program that progresses with you in the best interest of your goals. A home exercise program will also be administered to help you make the most progress and allow you to reach your full recovery. The team at Dedham Health Physical Therapy takes the time to understand each patient and set you up with the best approach to succeed. We will communicate with physicians, parents/caregivers, coaches and employers to make sure you are ready to return to activity, work or play with confidence.

Concussions don’t need to sideline you forever and the team at Dedham Health Physical Therapy is committed to getting you back in the game!