Despite the focus on improving safety, technology, and rewriting rules that concentrate on mitigating common injuries, concussions continue to be a serious epidemic in youth and competitive sports. Keep reading to see how physical therapy can play a critical role in evaluating and treating the onset of concussions.
What are concussions?
Concussions are defined as a traumatic brain injury induced by biomechanical forces.
Other common features also include a direct blow or impulsive force, rapid onset of short-lived impairment of neurological function that resolves spontaneously, or acute signs and symptoms that largely reflect functional disturbance rather than structural injury.
How are concussions normally diagnosed and treated?
A multimodal and multidisciplinary approach must be implemented to optimally assess signs and symptoms, cognition, balance, and vestibular function in patients where concussion is suspected.
Patients with persistent symptoms (>10 days) may benefit from a multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach, including cognitive, vestibular, physical, and psychological therapy along with commencement of a graded exercise program below a symptom threshold.
What role do Physical Therapists play in treating sports-related concussions?
Physical therapists are educated and trained on evaluating the extent and degree of that patient's concussive symptoms.
They use their skill set and experience to ascertain what concussion trajectories could be the primary contributors to the patient's current symptoms and how they are verbally and physically presenting in the clinic.
What techniques do physical therapists use to evaluate and treat concussions?
Learn more about Physical Therapy and Sports related concussions.
download our ebook
Click below to download our ebook "Physical Therapy and Sports-Related Concussions" - that goes into several evaluation and exercise techniques used by our MTS physical therapists in helping treat sports-related concussions.
ABOUT MTS Physical Therapy & WEllness
MTS offers full physical therapy services, along with all inclusive wellness and gym memberships serving the Acadiana Area. Our approach is a concept that embraces all aspects of a person’s needs. We help you better understand the importance of body, mind and soul to your overall well-being.
With complete physical therapy services, relaxed settings, and supportive and encouraging staff at all locations, we will make it possible for you to get back to living LIFE again!
