With the recent start of the 2024-2025 football season, I thought it was only fitting to talk about concussions, AKA mild TBIs.
So, you’ve just had a tumble on the field or a bump on the head and you’re wondering if you’ve got a concussion. No need to panic; you’re not alone! Concussions are more common than you might think, and physical therapists (PTs) are your go-to team for navigating this recovery journey.
The Concussion Craze
Did you know? An estimated 1.6 to 3.8 million concussions occur annually in the U.S. That’s right—more than the number of times you’ve misplaced your wallet this year! Whether you’re playing high-contact sports or just accidentally bumping into a door (we’ve all been there), concussions are a real concern.
Spotting the Sneaky Symptoms
Concussions can be as elusive as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Keep an eye out for these signs:
– Physical Symptoms: Persistent headaches, nausea, dizziness, or increased sensitivity to light or noise (ever been hungover?)
– Cognitive Symptoms: Trouble concentrating, confusion, and forgetting why you walked into the kitchen.
– Emotional Symptoms: Feeling a bit more moody than usual.
– Sleep Disturbances: Trouble sleeping (more trouble than usual).
Sometimes symptoms show up slowly over time, so vigilance is key.
How Physical Therapists Save the Day
Here’s how PTs swoop in like superheroes (minus the capes, but just as awesome) to help:
1. Diagnosis: Physical therapists perform assessments to check how the injury is affecting balance, coordination, and cognitive functions. They’re like the ultimate concussion detectives. They use different tools to determine whether or not the person has a concussion.
2. Treatment: PTs work their magic with:
– Balance and Coordination Exercises: To help you regain your footing—literally and figuratively.
– Cognitive Rehabilitation: Exercises to sharpen your mental focus and memory. Who knew brain workouts could be this fun?
– Neck and Postural Exercises: To ease related neck pain and get you back to standing tall.
3. Return to Play: Physio’s use a carefully crafted plan to get you back in action safely:
– Gradual Reintroduction: Slowly ramping up activity, like easing into a new season of your favorite TV show—one episode at a time. Wait, that might be a bad example.
– Education: They’ll arm you with knowledge on how to manage symptoms and keep future concussions at bay. No more guessing games!
– Clearance: Ensuring you’re fully ready to return to your sport without any lingering symptoms. Think of it as getting the green light from your personal cheerleader.
The TLDR:
Concussions are common and with the right care and guidance, you can recover and get back to your usual self—minus the headache! So, if you’re feeling a bit off after a head bump, consult a sports physio and get on the road to recovery with confidence!
Stay safe out there, and don’t let the bumps and bruises keep you down for long!
For more info on concussion management, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help and support you!
Dr. Michael
References:
– McCrory, P., et al. (2017). “Consensus statement on concussion in sport—the 5th International Conference on Concussion in Sport held in Berlin, October 2016.” *British Journal of Sports Medicine*, 51(11), 838-847.
– Giza, C. C., & Hovda, D. A. (2001). “The new neurometabolic model of concussion.” *Current Opinion in Neurology*, 14(6), 721-727.
