Concussions are a form of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a
bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body resulting in bouncing and twisting
of the brain within the skull. This interruption of brain function occurs
due to chemical and energy changes inside the brain that will not appear
on MRI’s or CT scans.
It is important to note that not all concussions require treatment. In
many cases, the symptoms will resolve on their own within one to two weeks.
However, it is important to have a concussion monitored by a medical professional
who can appropriately modify your physical and mental activities.
After sustaining a head injury, be on the lookout for the following physical
and cognitive symptoms:
Headache
Balance problems
Dizziness
Sensitivity to noise or light
Vertigo
Fatigue or low energy
Slurred speech
Issues with memory
Feeling sluggish, foggy, or hazy
Blurred or double vision
Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly
At Allied Services, we provide rehabilitation services for patients who
have experienced concussions whether it is related to sports, a fall,
motor vehicle accidents, or even work-related accidents. Physical, Occupational,
and Speech Therapy can help patients recover their balance, concentration,
memory, and gait– all of which may be affected after a concussion.
How can Therapy help if I have a Concussion?
On your first day your therapist will complete an initial assessment to
create a personalized program that addresses your specific symptoms. Utilizing
this approach, our therapy team will ensure you receive the proper intensity
at the right time in your rehab process.
Physical Therapy: After a concussion, you may experience physical symptoms that impact your
ability to participate in your daily activities. Dizziness, headaches,
neck pain, and feeling off balance or unsteady are some of the more common
symptoms. Our expert therapists will educate you about how to manage your
symptoms at home and in the community. During your sessions, our physical
therapists will monitor your vital signs and responses to ensure your
therapy is most effective. With the use of cutting edge technology, our
Physical Therapists may incorporate
vestibular therapy into your program if you have vestibular symptoms.
Occupational Therapy: Following concussion, patients may experience impairments related to vision.
If these visual impairments are left untreated, they can prolong concussion
recovery. Our Occupational Therapists provide vision therapy and visual-vestibular
rehabilitation to treat concussion-related vision issues. The goal is
to improve visual comfort, ease, and efficiency for daily life activities.
We also focus on improving visual processing and interpretation of visual
information. If necessary they may partner with an Optometrist for more
specialized care.
Speech Therapy: Speech Language Pathologists assess and treat deficits in the areas of
speech, language, cognition, swallowing, fluency and voice. After a concussion,
patients may experience difficulty with understanding and processing information
in everyday settings. Patients may exhibit difficulty with word finding,
organizational skills, and multitasking. The patient may also present
with changes in voice, slurred speech, swallowing difficulties, and dysfluency
of speech may be present in patients with a concussion. Our Speech Language
Pathologists are trained to provide quality treatment and will create
a plan of care to improve your communication skills to get you back to
your previous level of function.
One of the first things you will need to do with your care provider is
to undergo an initial assessment. Concussions can have a myriad of effects,
not all of which will be obvious. Every patient’s care plan will
be personalized based on the results of this assessment. This is a critical
step to making a full recovery after a concussion.
Interactive Therapy: We offer interactive touch screen therapy devices to improve hand-eye coordination,
reaction time, balance, and working memory for patients with a variety
of neurological conditions, including concussions. By playing interactive
programs and taking assessments, patients are able to improve their coordination
and brain function in an engaging, fun way.
Student-Athletes
One of the main goals of our therapy team is to assist with your return
to school and sports. Although it is important to undergo relative rest
in the very early stages of a concussion, returning to normal daily tasks
is encouraged. Your therapists will conduct exertional and cognitive testing.
This will assist your physician to decide when it's best for you to return
to specific activities.
Post Concussive Syndrome
The majority of patients reach full neurologic recovery within 1-2 weeks.
However, 15-20% may have persistent signs and symptoms beyond 3 weeks
known as Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS). Even with prolonged symptoms,
many individuals can experience relief from symptoms with an individualized
therapy program.
Begin Your Recovery Journey Today
Getting physical therapy at our Rehab Centers is hassle-free. With Direct
Access, you can begin without needing a referral, which means you won't
have to go through the expense and inconvenience of seeing another physician
for a referral.
To find a nearby Rehab Center, please refer to the
Locations section or contact us at
570-348-1360.
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