Concussion Basics
- Snow Sport & Spine Team
- Mar 30, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 11
Intro
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth
This rapid movement causes brain tissue to change shape, which can stretch and damage brain cells
Watch a CDC video that explains concussions by clicking on fig. 1
Causes:
Impact to the skull: hitting your head.
Violent shaking motion: whiplash.
A hard fall without contact to your head: the force of impact is provided by your brain colliding with your skull
Effects
This damage also causes chemical and metabolic changes within the brain cells, making it more difficult for cells to function and communicate. Since the brain is the body’s control center, the effects of a concussion can be far-reaching
Symptoms
Four categories of symptoms:
Physical
Cognitive
Emotional
Sleep
Physical:
Headache
Blurry vision
Dizziness
Fatigue
Drowsiness
Sensitivity to light
Sensitivity to noise
Balance problems
Nausea and/or vomiting
Cognitive:
Difficulty thinking clearly
Feeling slowed down
Difficultly concentrating
Difficulty remembering new material
Emotional:
Irritability
Sadness
Increased emotions
Nervousness/anxiety
Sleep:
More sleep
Less sleep
Difficulty falling or staying asleep
Assessment
Which tests can determine a concussion?
Here in our clinic we have many tools to provide assessment of a (potential) concussion based on objective testing, symptom assessment and clinical interview, including:
Neurologic Exam: Evaluate changes in hearing, vision, strength, reflexes, coordination and sensation.
Cognitive Testing: These tests screen for problems with memory, word recall, and mental processing that may have resulted from a concussion.
Balance Testing: Concussions can cause you to feel off balance. Balance is controlled by the proprioceptive, vision, and vestibular systems. We assess these systems individually and evaluate how they work together.
Vision: These tests evaluate how well your eyes move in all directions; whether you’re having problems such as blurry vision, double vision, or light sensitivity; and how well your eyes function while you’re trying to read.
Vestibular Screening: The vestibular system provides sensory input that helps with your balance and your orientation in space. Simple tests, such as having your eye follow a finger or staring at a focused point and moving your head, can cause you to feel dizzy, or have a headache if your vestibular system is impaired.
Cervical Spine Screening: An impact to your head or body can cause cervical spine (neck) pain, which may be associated with headaches and dizziness. This screening will assess your posture, neck movement, and strength to determine whether your pain and/or dizziness is originating in your neck and are contributing to your concussion symptoms.
What treatments are available after experiencing a concussion?
After a concussion, a short rest period can be helpful and then an active treatment approach is most beneficial including:
Treatments
Cranial and Neural Mobilization: This therapy works with the mobility of the cranial sutures, plates and membranes within the skull to facilitate healing after a head injury.
Musculoskeletal System: Assessment and treatment of the body's structural system after impact with a focus on cervical (neck) spine disorders.
Vestibular Exercises: Used to address balance challenges and focuses on improving the relationship between the inner ear, brain, eyes, muscles and nerves.
Exertional Program: Including support, testing and symptom management to ensure safe return to exercise and high-level athletics.
Oculomotor Exercises: Visual problems can occur due to disruptions in the visual brain pathway. This can affect how information is communicated between the eyes and the brain.
Education and Systems Management techniques: Highlighting tools and task modifications to decrease over stimulation, lower symptoms, and calm your nervous system while promoting healing.
