Concussions Happen, PT Can Help
By Dubuque Physical Therapy Team
January 3, 2022
Written by Brad Kruse, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS, Cert DN
When people talk about concussions, the first thing that comes to mind is a sport related injury. While those who play football or hockey see the highest incidence of this type of injury, the rate of concussions in other sports like soccer are not far behind. At Dubuque Physical Therapy, we have worked with patients who have had a concussion while participating in swimming, and in golf, as well as people who were injured at work or who slipped and experienced a fall.
Anyone, at just about any age, can have a concussion. Concussion symptoms can sometimes be missed, particularly when they follow a non-sport related incident. This type of injury generally is the result of the brain moving around within the skull and often coming into contact with the inside of the skull. A direct blow to the head can be the cause, but a concussion can also occur with no direct contact to the head. A blow to the body that results in the head moving or stopping quickly can result in what is called an impulse mechanism of injury. In either case, there is a change in brain function that results in altered brain and neural function.
The forces involved in a concussion impact many systems in the body. While there is a wide range of symptoms that can be present following a concussion, among the most common symptoms are:
The vast majority of concussions resolve relatively quickly. In adults, about 75% of those with a concussion recover within a week, and 90+% of concussion related symptoms resolve within the first 2 weeks. In teenagers or younger individuals, the recovery time is typically longer. Most of our younger population with a concussion recover within 2 weeks, and 85% of symptoms resolve within 4 weeks.
Physical therapists can help guide a person through the concussion recovery process. This recovery process includes the return to mental as well as physical activity. A school aged individual needs to tolerate being in the classroom before we worry about a return to athletic activities. An adult may need to work through the recovery process in order to return to work. Mental/cognitive issues can be treated in a similar fashion to physical limitations, with the prescription of specific activities or exercises from your PT.
Persistent post-concussion symptoms, those that linger for more than 2 weeks in adults, and 2-4 weeks in younger individuals, can be subdivided into various categories.
Instead, a specific process that gradually increases the intensity and duration of the offending task(s) leads to a faster resolution of symptoms. Every person and their individual circumstances are unique, just as every concussion is unique. Recovery from persistent post-concussion symptoms can be bolstered by having a physical therapist as part of the health care team involved in an individual’s recovery.
The expert physical therapists at Dubuque Physical Therapy are trained to assess which components are contributing to post-concussion symptoms. We will then work with you, and in coordination with your physician or health care provider and your school or employer, to develop an individual plan for recovery.
Written by Brad Kruse, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS, Cert DN
Physical Therapist and Sports Clinical Specialist
Dubuque Physical Therapy