Why You Need Physical Therapy After a Concussion

By: Christine Williams, PT, DPT

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A concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury, can result in a wide range of signs and symptoms. Common symptoms of a concussion include:

  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Light and/or noise sensitivity
  • Brain fog and fatigue
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Imbalance
  • Increased irritability or anxiety
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Neck pain

The short-term metabolic changes in the brain that occur due to a concussion can impact a variety of systems in the brain and body, including your visual, inner-ear and balance, and nervous systems as well as cognitive functioning. The neck is typically an involved region that can be painful and contribute to headaches and impairments in other systems.

Current research supports early detection and treatment of concussions to decrease injury recovery time.1 An evaluation by a physical therapist can help guide your concussion recovery. Your therapist will provide individualized education about:

  • Concussion pathophysiology
  • Strategies to modify activities
  • Initiating physical activity in a safe way to promote healing
  • Overlapping mechanisms between whiplash and concussion and the role of treating neck dysfunction

There is a common misconception that you shouldn’t be active after a concussion. However, research shows that initiating sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise can result in decreased symptoms and improved recovery time.2,3

Your physical therapist will evaluate you to determine which systems the concussion has impacted and what exercises you can perform to improve function. A physical therapist can also determine if you need a referral to other healthcare professionals to help manage your symptoms and decrease recovery time. The concussion rehabilitation team at Sheltering Arms Institute is trained and skilled in treating individuals with concussions across the lifespan.

To learn more about the concussion services provided at Sheltering Arms Institute, click here.

References:

  • Maree Cassimatis, Rhonda Orr, Andrew Fyffe, Gary Browne, Early injury evaluation following concussion is associated with improved recovery time in children and adolescents, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Volume 24, Issue 12, 2021, Pages 1235-1239, ISSN 1440-2440, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2021.06.012. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1440244021001626)
  • Xiaotian Shen, Bixi Gao, Zilan Wang, Yanbo Yang, Zhouqing Chen, Lelin Yu, Zhong Wang, Therapeutic Effect of Aerobic Exercise for Adolescents After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Sport-Related Concussion: A Meta-Analysis from Randomized Controlled Trials, World Neurosurgery, Volume 146, 2021, Pages e22-e29, ISSN 1878-8750, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2020.09.143.
  • Leddy JJ, Haider MN, Ellis MJ, et al. Early Subthreshold Aerobic Exercise for Sport-Related Concussion: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2019;173(4):319–325. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.4397

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