A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) and is caused by excessive, rapid movement of the brain inside the skull. Concussion can result from a direct blow to the head, face or neck or an indirect hit or injury that has enough force to jostle the brain. You do not need to have lost consciousness to have suffered from a concussion.  Clinical symptoms of a concussion typically alleviate in 7-10 days.  An estimated 15 to 30 percent of people with mild traumatic brain injury (concussion) develop post-concussion syndrome.

Symptoms of concussion range in type and severity but may include:

Physical:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Sensitivity to light
• Sleep disturbance

 Cognitive:

• Decreased attention and concentration
• Problems with memory
• Mental fatigue or mental “fog”
• Difficulty managing busy environments
• Difficulty with multi-tasking

Emotional:

• Irritability
• Sadness
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Interpersonal issues

Sleep-related issues:

• Sleeping too much
• Having trouble falling asleep
• Unable to stay asleep

The symptom picture is unique to each person suffering from a concussion.  What you can expect is a comprehensive assessment and individualized treatment aimed at the promotion of positive functional outcomes (a return to the activities that are most important to you).

Cognitive Assessment:

• Review of medical history
• Review of the nature of the injury
• Review of current symptoms and their impact on your daily function
• What goals are important to you
• Cognitive tests to determine the areas of cognition that may require intervention or would impact your function
• Determine plan of action for treatment (duration and frequency of treatment)

Individualized Treatment:

• Education on the nature of concussion recovery and the importance of brain rest in the recovery process
• Determination of current level of function that promotes recovery
• Gradual return to important daily activities (school, work, home, leisure, social)
• Education on coping strategies
• Provision of cognitive strategies that help you function better on a day to day basis
• Cognitive activities aimed at improving cognitive function

The main goals of a Concussion Recovery Program are:

• Working with clients and their families to identify the activities that are important for daily function
• Help the client return to school, work, sports and leisure, social life, etc. safely and in a way that would allow the client to recover from their concussion
• Help clients rebuild confidence in their daily lives after a concussion
• Provide education
• Develop a rehabilitation program and provide recommendations