A concussion is an injury to the brain due to a blow to the head or body that shakes the brain inside the skull. This type of injury changes the way the brain functions and can cause problems with balance, memory, and vision. Symptoms can occur immediately or evolve over the first 24-48 hours after injury. Common symptoms of a concussion include headache, neck pain, dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, blurry or double vision, balance problems, memory problems, confusion, emotional or mood changes, fatigue and poor sleep. Concussion can affect each child differently but with the right medical and therapeutic care most children recover fully. It is important that your child see a therapist who is specifically trained in concussion rehabilitation.
Physical Therapy along with Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy can address the common symptoms of concussion. During your child’s physical therapy session, they may receive:
- Manual Therapy
- Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization
- Therapeutic exercise
- Balance Training
- Vestibular Training
- Oculomotor Training
- Sports or Activity specific training
- Dual Task/Multitask training including memory and cognition
- Sleep training
