Active Solutions Health + Sport is committed to protecting the health and safety of our athletes through concussion management. Although we strive to prevent concussions, the reality is concussions can happen. From initial pre-season baseline testing to concussion treatment and rehabilitation, we have practitioners that are trained to collaborate with primary care physicians to co-manage concussions and ensure athletes safely Return to Learn, Work and Play.
What is a Concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury caused by acceleration or deceleration of the brain following a significant impact to the head or elsewhere on the body. The impact causes biochemical imbalances within brain cells, resulting in decreased blood flow and temporary energy deficits. Symptoms may include loss of consciousness, headache, pressure in the head, neck pain, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, or balance problems, among others.
Baseline Testing
Baseline testing is a series of physical and cognitive tests that provide a pre-injury overview of healthy brain function. These tests can offer healthcare practitioners an objective benchmark on which to compare should an athlete sustain a concussion. As concussion symptoms often disappear days to weeks before the brain has recovered, having valuable baseline information may help healthcare practitioners to make safer return to play decisions.
Concussion Management Treatment
During the early stage following injury, a period of relative symptom limited physical and cognitive rest is recommended. Research suggests 24 to 48 hours; however, these decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Following a short period of rest, the International Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport recommends a gradual increase in mental and physical activity guided by a licensed healthcare practitioner trained in concussion management. If symptoms persist beyond 10 days, exercise therapy, manual therapy of the neck, diet and nutrition changes, and vestibular and visual rehabilitation can be effective treatment options in these cases.
Return to Learn, Work and Play
Standardized concussion treatment and Return to Learn, Work, and Play strategies ensure adequate recovery time. We recommend a 10-step process which includes a phased return to cognitive and then physical activity:
Concussion Management at Active Solutions Health + Sport is provided by our team physiotherapist, Rich Huggins.