17 Feb How Do You Rehab A Concussion?
How do you rehab a concussion? We look to answer that in this blog post for you!
When looking to rehab a concussion, it is important to understand what it is in the first place. A concussion occurs when enough force is transmitted to the head that it creates a quick stretch to the cells in the brain (neurons). This creates a cascade of events that eventually leads to an ATP deficiency (the brains energy molecule).
The peak low of this energy crisis is between 3-5 days following a concussion, followed by a steady return to normal energy levels occurring about around 3-4 weeks. However, we probably have all known someone who has sustained a concussion, but taken well beyond 3-4 weeks to fully recover from all their symptoms. This is where it is important to understand the multitude of systems that a concussion can effect, so it can rehabbed accordingly.
Here are the following areas that need to be addressed following a concussion:
•Cervical Spine
•Visual System
•Vestibular System (Inner Ear)
•Exercise/Blood Flow
•Nutrition/Inflammatory
•Education/Psychological
Let’s break these down a little bit further.
In EVERY concussion, we need to consider the cervical spine. If enough force is transmitted to the head to produce the effects discussed above, this is ALWAYS enough of an impact to produce whiplash. The force to produce a concussion is around 70 g’s of force. To produce whiplash is only 7.5 g’s- this is why if a concussion has occurred, whiplash has inevitably occurred as well. If you were to look at the symptom comparison of both whiplash and a concussion, they are almost identical. Some of these can include dizziness and headaches. Irritation of joints/muscles in the neck and upper back fortunately can be treated with manual therapy, followed by rehabilitation when you look in the right places.
The next combination is the visual and vestibular system. Simply put, a concussion can create issue’s in these body systems which can lead to prolonged symptoms. Without getting too complicated, it is important to discover if/how they are being effected so the appropriate rehabilitation techniques can be implemented. This can range from a simple variation of eye exercises to different techniques to treat BPPV (a type of vertigo caused by dysfunction in the ear canal).
Exercise is a very important discussion for rehabilitation of concussion. While the old treatments have been lock yourself in a dark room, avoid any excursion whatsoever, new research has emerged that this is more harmful than good. Current literature has demonstrated that aerobic exercise has been shown to improve neuronal function, cortical connectivity and brain healing modulators (BDNF), while complete rest beyond 3 days in adults is not beneficial. Utilizing something called a buffalo treadmill test at MYo, we can establish what a good level of this aerobic exercise is for you. Through this test, we are able to determine what a sub-symptom threshold heart rate for exercise is, then use this going forward for aerobic exercise rehabilitation to effect blood flow.
Nutrition is an important topic to discuss due to inflammation. The food we eat can be a potential cause of ongoing inflammation, which limits the bodies ability to therefore heal. We know certain foods such as gluten, dairy, refined sugars and alcohol can all have an inflammatory role, therefore the elimination on these foods can allow for a better environment to heal.
The last area is psychological. While this isn’t a discussion to say that the symptoms are ‘in your head’, it is important to realize that having an improper viewpoint and not being properly educated on what is happening can definitely perpetuate symptoms. A common example is those who have sustained a concussion may believe they have permanent brain damage, while this definitely isn’t the case in the majority or the injuries. This thought can definitely have an impact on your outlook of your entire recovery, leading to a higher level and longer duration of symptoms. Having a trained professional provide education, a roadmap of what to expect and the reassurance you can recover can make all the difference.
This is a broad overview of what the rehab of a concussion may look like. Every individual will present uniquely, which is why it is important to be evaluated by a trained professional to determine the most appropriate road for recovery. If you have sustained a concussion, click here to be seen by one of our concussion specialists.
We are always accepting new members who are ready to commit to their health and wellness journey. If you are ready to experience the MYo difference, book now so one of our team members can welcome you to the MYo Lab community!