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Concussions are common injuries, and most of us know at least a few people who have experienced one. This can happen from a sports injury, a work injury, a car accident, and many other events that cause a blow to the head. Although concussions are common, they are traumatic brain injuries that need to be looked at by a medical professional. Concussions can have severe symptoms and lead to other severe conditions, so you should always get them adequately examined.
For anyone suffering from the effects of a concussion, physical therapy can make a big difference in recovery. At Cawley Physical Therapy, we offer concussion physical therapy and rehab in NEPA that can aid in your recovery so that you can get back to a safe, active lifestyle.
If this is your first concussion or your first time caring for someone with a concussion, you might be wondering, “what does a concussion mean?” and what treatment can help if one is needed.
Physical therapy is a great treatment option for those suffering from a concussion for multiple reasons. For one, physical therapists can evaluate and treat various concussion-related problems, such as headaches and balance issues.
No two concussions are alike, which is why your physical therapist will create a concussion rehabilitation plan unique to you. Here are a few ways a physical therapist can help your concussion symptoms.
If this is your first concussion or your first time caring for someone with a concussion, you might be wondering, “what does a concussion mean?” and what treatment can help if one is needed.
Physical therapy is a great treatment option for those suffering from a concussion for multiple reasons. For one, physical therapists can evaluate and treat various concussion-related problems, such as headaches and balance issues.
No two concussions are alike, which is why your physical therapist will create a concussion rehabilitation plan unique to you. Here are a few ways a physical therapist can help your concussion symptoms.
Relieve Neck and Head Pain
A concussion can cause neck pain and headaches that could last for a while. Physical therapy is a common choice for pain relief caused by many injuries and could help patients eliminate some of their pain without requiring medication. Different techniques like exercises, stretches, and massages can help provide relief from these symptoms to help those with concussions feel more comfortable as they recover.
Reduce Dizziness and Improve Balance
Dizziness is a common symptom for many people after a concussion and can be extremely unpleasant and even unsafe to deal with. If a person feels dizzy or is prone to losing their balance after their concussion, they could risk hurting themselves even more if they fall. Vestibular rehabilitation physical therapy is popular for many people experiencing dizziness and balance issues, including those with concussions.
Safely Get You Back to Normal
Like any injury, you don’t want to push yourself after a concussion. It’s extremely important to understand your limitations after an injury like this to keep you from injuring yourself any further. When it’s time to start going back to your old routine, you want to be sure you’re doing it safely. Physical therapy helps patients safely return to their regular activities at their own pace. Patients can learn to build their strength back up after this serious injury carefully.
For more than ten years, researchers at the University of Buffalo have been studying the effects of utilizing a controlled exercise program to improve persistent post-concussion syndrome. Several trials demonstrate significant reductions in symptoms, meaningful improvements in cerebral blood flow mechanics, and complete return to all pre-injury activities in as little as 6 to 10 weeks over placebo and sham therapies (stretching).
A recent systematic review found that physical exercise appears to improve symptom scores in patients with concussions. Further, a large, Canadian multi-center study found that initiating physical activity within seven days post-concussion was associated with a lower risk of developing persistent symptoms in children.
Ongoing studies since 2014 suggest that concussion patients achieve symptom resolution and clearance to resume full sports activities significantly sooner when they receive a multi-faceted, individualized concussion physical therapy plan. For example, a concussion rehabilitation plan consisting of manual therapy, vestibular rehabilitation, and oculomotor and neuromotor retraining, beginning as early as ten days after a concussion, may effectively shorten recovery time.
Anyone with symptoms lasting more than 10-14 days for adults and more than one month for children should seek treatment to help improve recovery time and decrease the risk of developing post-concussion syndrome.
There are several therapeutic options for patients with concussions, and most are centered around specific therapies for the cervical spine, vestibular system, visual system, and cardiovascular system. Evidence shows that a focused concussion rehabilitation approach that begins within the first 7 to 10 days after injury can significantly improve outcomes and decrease long-term symptoms in children and adults. As most concussion cases have symptom resolution within the first week, it is recommended that patients with symptoms beyond this point be referred to a multidisciplinary clinic with advanced training in the management and rehabilitation of concussions.
Getting the right help for a concussion is the best thing a person can do to help themselves recover. While recovering from a concussion can be hard for some, physical therapy can help make this much easier and safer. At Cawley Physical Therapy, you can work with an expert team to develop a personalized treatment plan that considers your symptoms and pain to ensure that it’s effective.
If you have persistent concussion symptoms, don’t try to handle this yourself. Contact us today to see if concussion physical therapy is the right treatment plan for you.
Our doctors of physical therapy in NEPA are ready to get you up and moving like you used to. With nine convenient locations, your road to recovery starts today!
