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5 Simple Steps for Concussion Management

   Wednesday, May 29, 2019

   Competitive Edge

Concussion Therapy Step 1.) Rest

The first step is rest! This means having full mental and physical rest so if that means taking a day or two off of work/school that may be your best option to help in the early stages. Also, cutting out physical activity in the early stages will be beneficial as the brain needs some time to heal; raising your heart rate may complicate the healing process early on. Lastly, eliminating the amount of time we spend watching TV or on our phones can have a huge effect on speeding the recovery time early on.

Concussion Therapy Step 2.) Get Assessed

This one may sound like a no brainer but, in cases where you suspect you have a concussion get assessed for it! As Athletic Therapists, we are highly trained in the assessment, management and, rehabilitation of a concussion. We are taught how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion and how to deal with them appropriately. This means asking you questions related to the injury, assessing your neck and cranial bones together, looking at neurological signs (i.e. cranial nerves, reaction time, etc) and, exercise prescription.

Concussion Therapy Step 3.) Have Patience

Realize that the brain needs to heal and that this will take time. It may be frustrating that you can’t get back to all your usual activities right away, remember that this is a marathon, not a
sprint. Every concussion is different, some resolve quicker than others and some may not fully resolve depending on how the injury occurred and if previous concussions have been sustained.

Concussion Therapy Step 4.) Get Treatment

This would involve working not only on the neck muscles but, the cranial bones as well! Depending on the type of impact and the severity some of our cranial bones get a little stuck.
Craniosacral Therapy can be very beneficial to help facilitate the movement of these bones and help the fluid around the brain flow more effectively post-injury. Additionally, Neuromeningeal
Manipulations can help to provide better movement of the bones as it directly works to move the planes of the bones and nerves effectively. A combination of the above-mentioned therapies can optimize your recovery process.

Concussion Therapy Step 5.) Return to Play, Work and, Learn Programs

As Athletic Therapists we want to not only get you back to work and school but, we want to help get you back effectively to all your daily activities. For work and school, it would be a modified return with different directions to help get you back to your full-time passions. Return to Play programs helps us get back to our activities we love to do! This is an essential part for athletes as they are trying to come back from a concussion; we want to make sure it is done safely and effectively. If you were sat for the remainder of a game or practice due to a suspected concussion why wouldn’t you want to know if your body is ready to go back to full activity? It makes sense to be put through a Return to Play program so that we can make sure all the correct decisions are being made out of the best interest of the athlete.

At Competitive Edge, we deal a lot with concussions and we have a great concussion management program! Above are just a few simple steps to helping you get the best out of your recovery from a concussion.

If this sounds like you or someone you know feel free to give us a call or book online.

Written by Michelle Gaudet
Certified Athletic Therapist CAT(C)

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