What Does Physical Therapy Look Like After A Concussion?
Concussions, or mild traumatic brain injuries, are an unfortunately common occurrence in sports, affecting as many as 3 million athletes per year. Concussions can cause immediate impairments, but newer research has also identified the risk for long-term complications, especially as the person suffers multiple concussions. Even with an increased emphasis on concussion recognition, only about 50% of sports-related concussions are reported and treated.
Vertigo, Verti-gone: How Physical Therapy Can Help You Shake Dizziness and Prevent Falls
You roll over in bed to silence your alarm clock when suddenly, the room begins to spin. You roll quickly back towards the center of the bed with significant fear of not knowing up from down or if you may fall out of bed. The spinning is severe, disorienting, and can even cause the uncomfortable sensation of nausea. However, within a minute or so, it seems to settle until you try to get up again. There are lots of types of dizziness experienced by millions of people daily, but this sensation is true vertigo. Vertigo is characterized by spinning dizziness, and you will first want it to be verti-gone. In this case, a physical therapist is one of the best professionals for you to visit.
Concussions in the Workplace
Approximately 1 in 4 mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) in adults occur at work and are associated with substantial productivity loss, economic burden, persistent symptoms, and occupational disability1. Concussions in the workplace are most commonly caused by falls, getting struck in the head by falling objects, or motor vehicle accidents2. Most adults recover from an mTBI or concussion within 7-10 days; however, individuals who continue to have persistent symptoms beyond this timeframe are more at risk for further co-morbidities, including aerobic deconditioning, chronic pain, anxiety disorder, depression, as well as poor work performance3.
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Vestibular Physical Therapy: Treating the Cause of Prolonged Concussion Symptoms
It seems you cannot turn on the TV lately without hearing something about another professional athlete who is suffering from the effects of a concussion. A concussion is a serious brain injury and is very difficult to assess and treat as MRIs and CT scans are almost always normal. If not treated properly, these concussions can cause both short- and long-term problems. One treatment that is getting more and more attention is the use of vestibular physical therapy for individuals who have been concussed. (more…)
