What is a concussion?
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that happens when your brain bumps against the inside of your skull. Concussions can happen as a result of a blow to the head, but they can also occur in any situation where a great deal of force moves your head back and forth, such as whiplash from a car crash or being forcefully shaken.
Most concussions are not life-threatening, but in some cases, a concussion can cause bleeding in and around your brain, which can be fatal. You should get emergency care immediately if you’ve experienced a concussion.
What are the symptoms of a concussion?
A concussion can temporarily impair the proper functioning of your brain and can sometimes lead to a temporary loss of consciousness. Some concussion symptoms include:
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headache or the sensation of pressure in your head
- Issues with your balance
- Increased sensitivity to noise or light
- Impaired memory or amnesia surrounding the event of the injury
- Drowsiness
- Slurred speech or delayed responses to questions
- Ringing in your ears
The onset of concussion symptoms can vary widely. You might experience concussion symptoms immediately, or they might take months to present themselves.
Some people experience post-concussion syndromes after their concussion, which, in addition to typical concussion symptoms, also include:
- Personality changes
- Vertigo
- Anxiety
- Difficulty concentrating
- Apathy
- Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- Depression
- Irritability
If you or someone you know has experienced a concussion, it’s important to get medical care. In most cases, you won’t need surgery or major medical procedures to treat your concussion, but it’s still a good idea to have a medical professional examine you.
How do you rehabilitate a concussion?
The team at Rainier Family Physical Therapy, PS can help you with post-concussion rehabilitation. If you’ve experienced concussion and haven’t seen a medical doctor yet, schedule a visit with your primary care physician first.
Rainier Family Physical Therapy, PS specializes in Counterstrain, which is a manual manipulation technique that can treat your post-concussion symptoms. Counterstrain is a technique that relaxes tissues that have gone into a protective spasm in response to a bodily threat, like an injury or infection.
In the case of a concussion, the tissues that spasm and tighten are the supporting tissues within your skull and the fascia that make up the outer layer of arteries, veins, and nerves in your brain. This tightening can restrict blood flow to your brain tissue and impair proper healing and functioning.
With Counterstrain, your physical therapist identifies the structures that are in spasm and uses gentle compression and tissue glides to release and relax the tissue that’s caught in a protective reflex. This opens up the tissue for more blood flow, which promotes healing.
Schedule your visit with Rainier Family Physical Therapy, PS by phone or online and get started with your post-concussion rehabilitation today.
