A Brief Guide on Physiotherapy for Post-Concussion Syndrome for Sports Players

A concussion is a complex injury in sports medicine, whether you consider diagnosis, evaluation, or management. Often, it occurs without any neurological signs or loss of consciousness. Due to this, individuals with suspected concussions are not allowed to play. Earlier, rest formed the central part of treatment to help patients minimize strain on their brains. Today, things have improved. While 24-48 hours is necessary, an injured person can steadily increase his activity without aggravating the symptoms. At the same time, physiotherapy is recommended for vestibular, head, and neck-related symptoms. Vestibular symptoms primarily manifest as poor balance, vertigo, and dizziness. A lot of sports people benefit from physiotherapy intervention in these areas.

If your symptoms don’t improve even after seven to ten days, you may approach physiotherapists Oakville for your post-concussion syndrome (PCS). You can notice a difference in the first three months. Sometimes, it can take a year or so. Let’s quickly understand how these professionals tackle PCS symptoms.

• Headache/migraine

Concussion headaches can affect the temporal or frontal part of your head. Pain can aggravate when you are exposed to cognitive activities or challenges. Looking at a screen or navigating a busy street are some common examples. Fatigue and disturbed brain metabolism can worsen your headaches. If your headache is triggered by eye-tracking tasks or ocular-motor dysfunction, your physiotherapist can recommend a few at-home exercises. Suppose neck dysfunction is the underlying factor here. Then, their manual therapy and exercise programs can benefit.

• Exercise/exertion intolerance

An expert physiotherapist will check your strength for exertion or exercise. You may have to walk on a treadmill, use a stationary bike, or do other specific exercises. The goal is to help you gradually progress in this area.

• Neck dysfunction

After a concussion, you can feel tension or stiffness in the neck. It can cause dizziness and headache. For this, the expert may want to test your cervical spine. They can look for spasm, mobility, and joint glide issues. It can also include detecting muscular weakness or postural-related matters. Typically, manual therapy works best, along with specific exercises. You can also be given ergonomic suggestions with dos and don’ts.

• Cognitive deficits

In the PCS phase, you can struggle with thoughts, memory, and multitasking. The reason behind this is poor blood circulation and metabolic disturbances in the brain. Oakville physiotherapy specialists help restore patients’ physical and cognitive health progressively. They are recommended to do daily chores, organizational tasks, and others.

PCS symptoms can significantly vary from person to person. Only experienced physiotherapists can provide proper diagnosis and treatment. They usually record all your symptoms and their traits. Over different sessions, the experts continue working on primary functional deficits, such as neck pain, dizziness, and others. Their hands-on care, balance systems, visual exercises, and lifestyle coaching can prove immensely effective. However, you may be more concerned about resuming your game as a sportsperson. Again, returning to the activities after a concussion depends on an individual’s recovery. Still, there are stages of progress.

Initially, you may have to take complete cognitive and physical rest for recovery. With health improvements, you can do activities. You cannot do resistance training, though. Things like stationary cycling, swimming, and walking are allowed. Like this, you steadily move to sports-related exercises, non-contact training programs, and full-contact practice before playing the game.