Occupational Therapy for Concussions

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that can have far reaching effects on daily life by impacting vision, balance, memory, attention, problem solving, emotions, and sleep. Occupational therapists specialize in rehabilitation and adapting activities of daily life. Occupational therapy is highly individualized and centers on the specific roles, impairments, and demands of each person.

Based on the specific needs of the individual, occupational therapy is often used to address the following after a concussion:

• Managing physical, cognitive, and psychological fatigue
• Decreasing sensitivity to sensory stimuli such as lights and sounds
• Creating a schedule or calendar
• Re-establishing routines
• Reading and scanning using printed text or a computer, tablet, or phone
• Practicing attention to a task while distractions are present
• Creating a system for managing medications
• Problem solving and decision-making
• Prioritizing and managing time
• Returning to work, school, sport, and/or the community
• Learning strategies to feel empowered
• Being aware of safety

For example, an individual identifies that cooking is important to her as she cooks dinner for her family every night. However, after her concussion, she is struggling to follow the instructions on the recipes and cook the main dish and side dishes simultaneously. In this scenario, the occupational therapist will work with her to gradually build and progress the skills and, if necessary, adapt the method to successfully complete the task.

Occupational therapists play a critical role in Sheltering Arms Institute’s multidisciplinary concussion team because they believe in the importance of and engagement in purposeful daily life activities. To learn more about our concussion program, visit www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com/conditions-and-services/concussion-therapy.