What is a concussion Injury?

Figure 1: Neck Pain - Concussion Injuries - Physio Frenchs Forest, Physio Macquarie Park

What is concussion?

A concussion is a brain injury due to the acceleration/deceleration of the brain, usually due to a blow to the head or body. It is NOT the brain banging up against the inside of the skull causing bruising like we once thought, but rather the stretching of the nerve cells within the brain. 

 


What are the signs and symptoms of a concussion?

The stretching/sheering of nerve cells causes them to fire rapiding - tricking the nerves into thinking they have received a signal. Because of the nature of the injury, millions of nerves fire all at the same time and this can be too much for the brain to handle. This will typically result in immediate symptoms like confusion, loss of balance or coordination, loss of memory, seizures, loss of consciousness.  

These symptoms generally go away rather quickly but over the next few hours and days an energy deficiency in the brain develops as we initially burnt TONS of energy from the firing of the nerves. Our ATP (energy) levels continue to drop and the person will start to feel fatigued, drowsy and sometimes irritable and emotional. 

In humans, our peak energy low is 5 days after concussion and full recovery takes 2-4 weeks before our ATP levels are restored to normal. During this recovery period the brain is vulnerable and another injury during this time we can acquire additive or cumulative effects. 

Figure 2: Neck Pain - Concussion Injuries - Physio Frenchs Forest, Physio Macquarie Park

Can Physiotherapy help with concussions?

  • Initially, we can help to clear any nasty red flags that would result in referral to the Emergency Department, back to your GP or for further imaging. These are rare, but can happen so we want to be sure that Physio is the right place for you. 

  • Once cleared, we enact our concussion protocol which begins with a screen of your musculoskeletal, visual and vestibular issues and be sent home with specific exercises if we detect any abnormalities. You will also go home with a concussion information pack which includes do’s and don’ts for your diet, sleep habits, school/work/sport guidelines. 

  • Your follow up appointment will consist of a graded exertion test to determine if physical activity reproduces any concussion symptoms.  

  • If your symptoms last 7-10 days, it is now classed as PCS (Post Concussion Symptoms) 

See our expert Physiotherapy team at Frenchs Forest and Macquarie Park!

Reece Jonesconcussion in sport, concussion, head injury in sport, head injury, physio for concussion, macquarie park, frenchs forest