Many people seek physical therapy for injuries and chronic conditions in their body, from knee and hip injuries to chronic back pain and other sports injuries. However, many people don’t realize that physical therapy can help with post-concussion syndrome treatment in Brampton. Read on to learn how physical therapy can help with concussion recovery.
Diagnosing a concussion
The first step in treating a concussion is diagnosing it, which can be difficult. When your head or body takes a hit, your brain hits the inside of your skull and can even ricochet back into the other side of your skull. This movement damages brain cells and can even cause chemical changes. Many people lose consciousness when this happens, although others don’t. Plus, most people recover very quickly. This can make it difficult to diagnose and treat.
Signs of a concussion include more functional changes and problems than structural ones that could show up on an MRI or CT scan. More often, the person suffering doesn’t feel normal, and develops symptoms of a concussion. Self-diagnoses are common in these cases, but getting a professional assessment is always prudent. Lingering issues are called post-concussion syndrome, and can be treated with physical therapy.
The physical therapist’s approach
A physical therapist can deliver post-concussion syndrome treatment in Brampton by working on the vestibular system, located in the ears. This system is what gives you a sense of your body in space, including balance and direction, as well as a sense of how fast you’re moving. Concussions often damage the vestibular system, leading to dizziness and balance issues. Physical therapists can work with the vestibular ocular reflex system, which is the coordination between your eye and head movements. Therapists can give patients head movement exercises to force their brains to deal with the issues created and habituate the brain to the changes in the vestibular system.
In addition to the vestibular system issues, many people experience neck issues associated with post-concussion syndrome. Therapists can also work with posture and neck movements to help dissipate these problems. Additionally, patients may experience changes in their heart rate, creating a lack of energy and stamina. Their brain requires more energy than they’re getting. Post-concussion syndrome treatment in Brampton will also focus on building back up the patient’s stamina through cardio and other exercises designed to gradually increase the heart rate. Physical therapists will work slowly at a heart rate that does not induce symptoms of dizziness or nausea, and then work to gradually increase the heart rate.
Paramount Physiotherapy & Sports Injuries Clinic is dedicated to providing physical therapy interventions, including post-concussion syndrome treatment in Brampton. We emphasize manual therapy and our treatment approach incorporates education, exercise, modalities and acupuncture to effectively and efficiently reintegrate individuals into sports and regular activities of daily life. We are committed to working in a partnership with the patient to ensure positive rehabilitation while maintaining the highest quality of service. If you are experiencing concussion symptoms or post-concussion syndrome, give us a call today to see what we can do for you.