The most common type of head injury.
Concussion Rehabilitation
A concussion is the most common type of head injury in athletes. It occurs when a force causes the brain to move rapidly within the skull. This can result from a direct blow to the head or from a sudden impact to the body that creates a whiplash-type motion of the head and neck. Because concussions affect brain function, they must always be taken seriously.
Some symptoms appear immediately and may include headache, dizziness, ringing in the ears, sensitivity to light or noise, memory difficulties, nausea, or vomiting. Other symptoms may not develop for hours or even days after the injury. These can include difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, fatigue, neck and back pain, decreased balance and coordination, and irritability.
While many concussion symptoms improve within several days, the brain continues to heal beyond the point when symptoms resolve. If symptoms persist beyond three to six weeks, an athlete may be diagnosed with Post-Concussion Syndrome.
At Omaha Physical Therapy Institute, our physical therapists are trained to safely guide athletes through the recovery process after a physician has evaluated and diagnosed a concussion. A comprehensive physical therapy evaluation may include:
• Assessment of orientation to person, place, and time
• Cognitive screening
• Balance testing
• Eye movement and visual control assessment
• Postural evaluation
• Cervical spine mobility and strength testing
• Gradual assessment of tolerance to physical activity, when appropriate
Our goal is to support a safe, structured return to school, daily activities, and sport while minimizing the risk of prolonged symptoms or re-injury.
Physical therapy treatment for concussions may involve the following items:
- Education for the athlete and parent/guardian on concussion management and recovery expectations
- Ongoing communication with the athlete’s coach and athletic trainer to coordinate a safe return-to-play progression
- Balance retraining to restore stability and reduce fall risk
- Vestibular rehabilitation to address dizziness and motion sensitivity
- Oculomotor (visual tracking and eye movement) rehabilitation
- Cervical spine mobility and strengthening to address neck-related symptoms
- Postural education
- Progressive aerobic conditioning to safely reintroduce physical activity
- Structured, sport-specific training and return-to-play progression
OPTI works closely with the Caze Institute in order to provide the most efficient and well researched concussion care.
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