Concussion Management

Concussions are a form of mild traumatic brain injuries that are caused as a result of a blow to the head, neck, body or face that disrupts normal functions of the brain. Many people are of the belief that the loss of consciousness is a common element of concussions of which it is not; it can happen but it is not that common. A mild traumatic brain injury can leave psychological and physical effects that may not be apparent right away; sometimes symptoms may not appear until days or weeks later.

Concussion Symptoms

There are several indicators and symptoms that a person may experience if they have a concussion. Keep in mind though that these signs may immediately develop or they may not surface for hours, days and possibly weeks. Age is something to consider because in children the signs may be more subtle.

Symptoms may include:

• Pressure in the head or a headache.
• Feeling confused or in a daze.
• Ringing sounds in the ear.
• Amnesia.
• Dizziness, nausea or vomiting for no other apparent reason.
• Speech is slurred.
• Unable to answer a simple question quickly.
• Fatigue.
• Temporary loss of consciousness.
• Loss of concentration and memory.
• Irritability.
• Heightened sensitivity to noise and/or light.
• Inability to get a good sleep at night.
• Depression.
• Taste and smell may be altered.

Should any of these symptoms appear after a head injury (child, youth or adult) then be sure to seek emergency care:

• Continuous vomiting.
• Loss of consciousness lasting more than 30 seconds.
• Headaches that persist and get worse.
• Changes in behaviour such as physical coordination, stumbling or clumsiness.
• Seizures.
• Confused or disoriented as well as having difficulty recognizing people or places
• Slurred speech or other changes in speech
• Vision disturbances including dilated pupils or pupils that are unequal in size.
• Dizziness does not go away.
• Large bumps on the head or bruises on other areas of the head in young children, especially in infants.

Canadian Government

The Government of Canada recognizes that concussions are a serious concern among those participating in sports and recreation activities, especially youth. Concussions in sport are a recognized public health issue because of their frequency and their potential short and long-term consequences. For example:

• 64% of emergency hospital visits among 10-18 year-olds are related to participation in sports and other recreational activities.
• Among children and youth (10-18 years) who visit an emergency department for a sports-related head injury, 39 percent were diagnosed with concussions; another 24 percent were possible concussions.
• Between 2004 and 2014 football, soccer and hockey have all shown a greater than 40% increase in rates of reported head injury for children and youth.

Chiropractic & Physiotherapy Care

Our Chiropractors and Physiotherapists can be an integral part of your recovery as they are trained and certified via Complete Concussion Management protocols and receive ongoing evidence based continuing education in order to provide our patients' with the most relevant treatment approaches.

In many cases concussions occur  along with some type of musculoskeletal injury such as; whiplash, muscle spasms, joint fixations, and facet syndrome. Our Chiropractors and physiotherapists are the best-trained professionals to help resolve the injuries sustained.  A treatment plan will be implemented to help resolve both the musculoskeletal diagnosis and concussion.

For more information about concussions and how we can help you, feel free to call our office during regular business hours and one of our associates will be please to speak with you. Established in 2007 by Dr. Behfar Sanjari, Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has been committed to providing quality health care services to the Greater Toronto Area for a decade. We have clinics located in Richmond Hill and Newmarket, call 905-918-0419 or 905-235-2620 for more information.

Sources:

http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1465244566173
http://www.brainline.org/content/2012/06/what-you-need-to-know-symptoms-of-concussion.html