A Physical Therapist’s Take on Concussion Prevention and Treatment in Athletes
Sport-related concussions are considered the most common head and neck injury among the athletic population affecting 3.8 million Americans every year. Approximately 5-10% of #athletes will experience a concussion in any given sport season. In this blog, we will address common questions regarding concussions, how to prevent them, and how physical therapy can help.
What is a #concussion?
A concussion is an injury to the brain that results in temporary loss of normal brain function. - AANS
It is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. - CDC
Concussions usually do not result in any structural or “visible” injuries, but are actually micro injuries to the blood vessels and nerves within the brain itself. This trauma to the brain can have widespread effects on the athlete’s body.
What are symptoms of a concussion? (mayoclinic)
Headache
Ringing in the ears
Nausea and/or vomiting
Fatigue or drowsiness
Blurry vision
Confusion or feeling as if in a fog
Amnesia surrounding the event or a brief loss of consciousness
Dizziness or “seeing stars”
Trouble with concentration and memory
Irritability and other personality changes
Sensitivity to light and noise
Difficulty sleeping
Loss of balance, clumsiness, or unsteadiness while walking
Who is most at risk?
Athletes
Females and younger athletes
Thought to be due to physiological differences such as smaller, weaker necks
Contact sports
Football, rugby, soccer, boxing/fighting, and hockey
Athletes who have had a previous concussion
5-10x more likely to experience another concussion
What are concussion prevention strategies?
There are many prevention strategies that sports organizations put in place to try to reduce concussion risk in athletes. Some of these protective measures include wearing protective gear such as helmets, mouthguards, and pads, and implementing rule changes in the sport to encourage safety while playing and decrease risky movements.
Preventative measures that the individual athlete can do to decrease their risk for concussion include using proper technique in their sport, performing isometric neck strengthening exercises to add increased stability and proprioceptive control of the head and neck, and by learning about how to best protect themselves and others from injury.
How can physical therapy help?
Often, people have been told that strict rest after a concussion is the best treatment to let the brain heal. However, recent studies have shown that people who adhered to strict rest had more severe symptoms and worse recovery outcomes.
Now, treatment focuses on symptom management, graded exposure to daily activities, and retraining of the brain.
Depending on your symptoms, physical therapy treatment can involve:
Vision and inner ear correction to reduce dizziness and headaches
Soft tissue therapy and joint mobilizations to reduce muscle tension in the head and neck
Graded strengthening exercises and exercises that involve heart rate elevation with symptom management in order to improve activity tolerance
Return to play and return to learning progression
Player education and concussion prevention exercise programing
Prevention is the first line of defense when it comes to concussion management. Important first steps that everyone can take is educating themselves and others on what a concussion is, what the signs and symptoms are, and what measures can be taken by the athlete in order to decrease their risk. Second steps include incorporating isometric neck strengthening exercises in the athlete’s warm up before participating in the sport, using proper sport-specific bracing techniques while playing and practicing, and learning how to safely and effectively perform their sport. Finally, if you think you or anyone you know has concussion-like symptoms, be sure to seek out appropriate medical treatment in order to address symptoms and speed up recovery!
-Blake Pittman, DPT & Mackenzie Neff, SPT
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