What is Concussion?

noun

Pathology. injury to the brain or spinal cord due to jarring from a blow, fall, or the like.

-         shock caused by the impact of a collision, blow, etc.

-         the act of violently shaking or jarring.

Concussions are a form of mild traumatic brain injury that affects the way your brain functions, and have recently been thrusted into the limelight with contact sports. Many retired professional athletes are now being diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy caused by repeated blows to the head and concussions (think Danny Frawley / Shane Tuck etc). Although concussions have received extensive media attention in professional sport they can often be neglected in amateur sport, especially when it comes to the recovery process.

So, how do you know if you have a concussion? Do you have concussion symptoms?
How can you get back to work, school, sport and all other activities?
Here we go……

What to look out for in Concussion?

Concussion symptoms can start immediately after a knock, but can also sometimes take 24-48 hours to develop. Symptoms can be as mild as feeling a bit off to loss of consciousness and seizures. Most obvious symptoms of concussion usually resolve in 10-14 days but can hang around for much longer if not properly addressed. See the table below for a list of potential symptoms:

Mild Symptoms of Concussion

The mild symptoms of concussion can include Headaches, Pressure in the head, Poor concentration, light and sound sensitivity, feeling foggy or off, nausea and vomiting. Keep in mind these can be immediately after the incident or 2-3 days later.

Severe Symptoms of Concussion

The severe symptoms of concussion include appearing vacant, dazed, stunned, disorientated, memory loss, poor balance, and change in behaviour.

Critical Symptoms of Concussion

The critical symptoms of concussion, where you will need to seek urgent medical attention include loss of consciousness, seizures, balance issues, excessive neck pain, double vision, weakness or tingling in the arms or legs.

2.      Immediate & Follow-up Management

If you have any of the critical symptoms listed, seek urgent medical attention at your nearest hospital emergency department to rule out significant injuries. Otherwise, the athlete should remain in the presence of another individual, avoid driving and any alcohol and consult a professional re: medication use.

For the 24-48 hours post-concussion cognitive and physical rest is required. This includes time off work / school and avoiding activities that provoke your symptoms. Low stimulation is your friend during this time, which means no television, screen time, excessive light or noise.

It’s also recommended to jump in with a Physiotherapist. In these early stages they can screen for any neck injuries or whiplash that occurred simultaneously and assess if headaches or other symptoms are originating from sources other than your concussion and begin treating them. Physios are also able to start a plan for returning to day-to-day activities and sport.

3.      Getting back to Life and Return to Sport

After the initial period has passed, if your concussion symptoms are settling and have planned your return to activity with your physio you can resume some day-to-day activities around the house and begin some very light exercise. This can sometimes commonly provoke symptoms; if it does cause significant and sustained deterioration in your symptoms then you aren’t ready yet to complete that task and need to give your body more time to recover.

This is where working in conjunction with your physio is really important as each person’s road to recovery is different and will require tailoring to the individual. Rehabilitation can include exercises, massage and soft tissue work, neck specific rehab, visual and vestibular rehab and a structuring a plan to return to contact and games.

An example of our treatment plan looks like this………

Please note this return to play plan, is only an example and is not a one size fits all. Every individual will need to have a plan built based on their injury, symptoms, previous incidents etc. So please don’t follow this without consulting a professional.

If you’ve had multiple issues with Concussion injuries or it’s your first time dealing with one, it can be quite worrying at various times. Come and talk to an Evolutio Physiotherapist today, we can work in tandem with the Melbourne Concussion centre to help you return to sport and monitor your progress safely.