If you’ve ever hit your hard enough to sustain a concussion, you’re probably no stranger to how frustrating and disorienting they can be. Concussions can be brutal and sometimes take unexpected lengths to recover from.
It’s essential to seek immediate, emergency medical care for any concussion you sustain because it is a traumatic brain injury. Emergency medics can determine the severity of your concussion and keep you stabilized if necessary. After you seek immediate medical care, it’s equally important to schedule follow-up treatment. Follow-up treatment sessions can ensure that you recover as efficiently and fully as possible.
Physical therapists are experts at helping patients with concussions recover during therapy. They work with patients who’ve experienced head trauma to regain balance, improve gait, improve vision, reduce pain, improve motor skills, and plan a return to physical activity.
Common Causes of Concussions
Concussions can occur in an instant. Read through some of the most common causes to gain a better understanding of the types of activities that can lead to this type of injury:
- Slips and falls — Some of the top causes of concussions are slips and falls. Anyone can slip on a hard surface and hit their head. These are especially common in older adults as they tend to lose their balance more frequently and become more prone to falls.
- Car accidents — Car accidents are another common cause of concussions. Any physical impact that occurs during an accident, as well as the sheer force from whiplash, can cause a concussion to occur.
- Sports injuries — Many athletes experience concussions, either from falls, contact to the head from a fast-moving ball, or contact with another player. Athletes involved in contact sports are especially likely to experience concussions.
- Blows or strikes to the head — Concussions can generally occur from any hard impact or strike to the head. This can include punches and objects thrown at someone during a fight or physical abuse. If this has happened to you, please seek help and safety.
- History of concussions — Anyone who has experienced a concussion (or several) is more vulnerable to sustaining them again. If you’ve dealt with them previously, you may be more likely to experience one in the future.
Symptoms of Concussions
The symptoms of concussions can feel ruthless. Find out some of the most common symptoms of concussions and determine if you’re experiencing any of these still:
- Impaired speech.
- Impaired cognitive function.
- Difficulty keeping balanced.
- Dizziness.
- Severe headaches.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Sensitivity to light and noise.
- Fatigue.
- Changes in mood or irritability.
What to Expect During Treatment
You can expect a few things during a physical therapy session for a concussion. First, your physical therapist will exercise professionalism and compassion during each session. Our team at REPAIR SI knows how overwhelming concussions can feel, especially those concussions that seem to linger on for extended periods. We’ll do our best to ensure your comfort during each therapy session so that you can get the best effects from treatment. Second, we’ll work with you to help improve your balance and gait and motor skills and get you back safely performing physical activities.