Is a Concussion a Brain Injury?

A concussion occurs when a large amount of force is applied to a person’s body and/or head. This linear or rotational force causes the brain to move rapidly within the skull. As a result, there is a short-term change in the metabolic functioning of the brain, which is why concussions are classified as brain injuries.

Most people are familiar with concussions due to sports injuries, however, there are also other events that can cause a concussion. Examples include car accidents, assaults, and falls.

Signs and symptoms of a concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury, include:

• Headache
• Visual issues such as blurred vision
• Dizziness
• Brain fog or forgetfulness
• Irritability or increased emotionality
• Nausea
• Clumsiness

A person does not need to lose consciousness for a concussion to have occurred. A concussion is often referred to as a ‘mild traumatic brain injury’ or mTBI. While the term ‘mild’ indicates that concussions are not life-threatening, seeking medical care is the appropriate choice if you or someone you know suspects they’ve experienced a concussion as early detection and treatment of concussion has been shown to shorten the recovery time and improve patient outcomes for this treatable injury.

Other types of traumatic brain injuries include moderate and severe. Brain injuries fall under these categories when loss of consciousness has occurred for up to or more than 24 hours, neuroimaging shows evidence of brain trauma, or there are signs of brain trauma.

Signs and symptoms* of more severe traumatic brain injury include:

• Repeated vomiting
• Slurred speech
• One pupil larger than the other
• Seizures
• Drowsiness or the inability to wake up
• Numbness, weakness, and/or poor coordination

*Please seek immediate medical attention if any of these occur.

The concussion rehabilitation team at Sheltering Arms Institute is trained and skilled in treating individuals with concussions. To schedule an appointment with one of our concussion experts, please visit https://shelteringarmsinstitute.com/contact-us/ or call (804) 764-1000.

Sheltering Arms Institute also provides both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation for individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury. To learn more about our traumatic brain injury program, please visit https://shelteringarmsinstitute.com/conditions-and-services/brain-injury-rehabilitation/.

References

Brain Injury Association of America (2023, February 19). Concussion Information. https://www.biausa.org/brain-injury/about-brain-injury/concussion-mtbi/concussion-information

CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023, February 19). Brain injury basics. https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/concussion_whatis.html

Kamins J, Giza CC. Concussion-Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Recoverable Injury with Potential for Serious Sequelae. Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2016 Oct;27(4):441-52. doi: 10.1016/j.nec.2016.05.005. PMID: 27637394; PMCID: PMC5899515