What To Do When Recovering From A Concussion

You’ve gotten hit in the head, and you are starting to feel the symptoms of what you think might be a concussion. It is a serious injury; you are unsure of the next steps, and you want to be able to identify the issue if it is indeed a concussion.

In the United States alone, concussions are one of the more common injuries in sports, and last year 3.8 million people suffered a concussion due to a sports-related injury. With winter arriving, the shift to more active snow sports is a good time to discuss the frequency of head-related injuries

A concussion is a brain injury that occurs when there is excessive force on the head and causes the brain to hit the skull. The injury can cause the body to have mental or physical difficulties and it can cause stumbling, incoherent speech, and difficulty with physical coordination.

Continuing to participate in sports while concussed is extremely dangerous and we would advise that the athlete is removed from all physical activity if the symptoms are present. You should not drive, operate machinery, or be alone for 24 hours after a concussion.

The symptoms might not be immediate and could worsen over time. If the symptoms do occur and persist, you need to seek medical attention straight away.

Concussions are sometimes difficult to notice in a person and if there is any concern that the athlete has suffered any injury to the head, they seek medical attention immediately with an athletic trainer or doctor.

If you are unsure of what to look for in a person that might have a concussion, here are some of the signs we look for when understanding the severity of the injury and if they need to seek further attention.

Common Symptoms of a Concussion Include…

  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Headaches
  • Fuzzy or blurred vision
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness & balance problems
  • Sensitivity to light and noise
  • Lethargy
  • Irritable or sad
  • Nervous or anxious
  • Irregular sleep patterns
  • Unconscious or have had a brief loss of consciousness
  • One pupil is larger than the other
  • Having convulsions or seizures
  • Cannot recognize people or places
  • Unusual behavior
  • Headache that gets worse and does not go away

4 Things To Help In Your Recovery From A Concussion…

#1 – Remove the concussed person from work, school, or play immediately after the injury and seek care.

The first step of recovery from a concussion is to remove the possibility of suffering another injury to the head, and that means removing the physical activity from your day and rest as much as possible.

An athlete should seek immediate medical attention and advice, as these injuries can be lasting and lead to permanent damage to the brain. It is a significant injury and taking every precaution is vital to healing from the trauma to the head.

#2 – Get sleep, eat, and drink plenty of water.

We encourage plenty of rest with uninterrupted sleep. Sufficient sleep will allow the brain to heal and is necessary for recovery.

Proper nutrition during recovery aids the body as it heals and replenishes its energy store for the next big energy burn.

Staying hydrated is vital to overall health but can help in the recovery from a concussion. Drinking water helps with managing symptoms and can alleviate the headaches that come with this injury.

#3 – Avoid Bright Lights

Screen time on the computer, television, smartphone, or tablet should be avoided. As well as the bright lights and movement of screens, activities like texting or playing video games that require a lot of mental focus.

#4 – Patience is the key

Take it slow as you begin to get active again.

Continue adding activity if your symptoms have not returned or worsened. Depending on the severity of the concussion, you will probably be able to return to work or school within a week. Some may last longer, so make sure that you are concussion free before returning to your normal activities.

Allowing the brain to heal after a concussion is important and not getting involved in the activities you were involved in prior to the concussion could make the injury worse and cause permanent damage. Be patient and let the body get slowly acclimated after you have been cleared to return to play.

A week after you suffer the concussion, you should schedule a follow-up with a doctor to make sure that the symptoms have subsided and that you can be given the all clear.

Want to know what to do when you have a concussion and how to recover while concussed?

If your body is struggling with an injury like concussion or is struggling to keep up with the demands of being an athlete, our team can help.

We are offering a limited number of Free Discovery Visits so you can discover the fastest way to recover from injuries, and get back to doing the things you love.

We’ve worked with hundreds of athletes from a wide range of sports, and through Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy and Personal Training enabled them to perform at their best in their sport.

To find out how our rehabilitative experts utilize a variety of physical therapy techniques that can help you overcome your pain and stay active, Arrange A Free Discovery Visit by completing our online contact form in under 30 seconds or call our friendly team on (425) 252-3908.

Unsure whether we are right for you?

We understand that you may not have visited a Physical Therapy clinic before and be unsure whether it’s going to help you as a student athlete.

If so, check out this review from K J Wright, Linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks:

“Can’t thank SPT enough for getting my body back strong! They understand how to be smart and work hard at the same time! Awesome group to work with”

Our team were able to help KJ, and we can help you too!

Arrange A Free Discovery Visit at one of our five locations (Bellevue, Everett, Factoria, Kirkland and Lake Stevens) today!

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