Physical Therapy and Concussions

Concussions are serious brain injuries that can have lasting effects on the victim, dramatically affecting their physical, cognitive, and behavioral health. Concussions are commonly seen as a result of a collision during a sport, a collision in a motor vehicle, or due to a fall. Recovery from a concussion can take several weeks to several months depending on the severity. Because of this, concussions are classified as mild traumatic brain injuries or TBIs. Physical therapy can treat many of the impairments related to concussions/mild traumatic brain injuries to minimize symptoms and maximize recovery.

“The mounting evidence that controlled exercise helps with concussion recovery underscores the fact that treating concussion should incorporate an interdisciplinary approach with partnerships that include physical therapists… who are uniquely qualified to help guide and oversee an active rehabilitation plan.” – Bert Vargas, MD, FAAN, associate professor of neurology and director of the sports neuroscience and concussion program at UT Southwestern Medical Center’s O’Donnell Brain Institute (“The Role of Physical Therapy,” 2018)

Concussion symptoms after a head injury or motor vehicle accident include but are not limited to the following:

• Headache
• Nausea/vomiting
• Poor balance/coordination
• Double or blurred vision
• Slurred speech
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Confusion
• Memory loss
• Slowed mental processing
• Mood swings

(Physical Therapy Guide to Concussion, 2020)

Concussion Treatment

The goal of physical therapy for a patient post-concussion is to examine and address:

• Cervical musculoskeletal impairments — musculoskeletal dysfunction effecting range of motion, muscle strength and endurance, cervical joint mobility, and tenderness to palpation.
• Vestibulo-oculomotor impairments — headache, dizziness, nausea, vertigo, balance and coordination deficits, and visual impairments (blurred vision and difficulty focusing on stable or moving targets).
• Autonomic/Exertional tolerance impairments — postural drops in blood pressure and increased heart rate, and exertional tolerance tests measuring vital and symptom responses.
• Motor function impairments — static and dynamic balance training, coordination and control tasks, dual/multitasking (performing motor tasks and cognitive tasks simultaneously). (Quatman-Yates, 2020).

There are a few ways to decrease risks of having a concussion, but no way to absolutely eliminate those risks. These include not being involved in contact sports or cheerleading, avoiding distracted driving such as eating, texting, or talking on the phone, ensuring your vehicle’s airbags are functional, and driving defensively.

Results’ therapists are educated and experienced in treating patients with post-concussion symptoms. For more information, including contact information, please visit us at resultspt.com.

1. Physical Therapy Guide to Concussion. (2020, August 18). https://www.choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-concussion
2. Quatman-Yates, C., Hunter-Giordano, A., Shimamura, K. K., Landel, R., Alsalaheen, B. A., Hanke, T. A., & McCulloch, K. L. (2020, March 1). Physical Therapy Evaluation and Treatment After Concussion/ Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. https://www.jospt.org/doi/pdf/10.2519/jospt.2020.0301.
3. The Role of Physical Therapy in Concussion Care. (2018, May 30). https://completeconcussions.com/2018/05/30/physical-therapy-concussion-care/