Blog

Can physiotherapy help your child’s concussion?

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION:

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that affects brain function. 

Children are 2.5x more susceptible to sustaining a concussion and generally display a longer recovery time than adults.  Once a child has sustained a concussion, they are also more vulnerable to a second injury.  Seeking medical attention following a concussion can help reduce the risk of further injury and speed up recovery time.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A CONCUSSION:

Do not continue to play! Rest from sports or activities including reading and screen time.  Seek an assessment by a physiotherapist or medical professional.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

Signs of a concussion may include, but are not limited to:

– neck pain – headaches – dizziness – sleep disturbances – emotional changes/irritability – fatigue – sensitivity to light and noise -confusion/memory loss

WHAT DOES CONCUSSION TREATMENT LOOK LIKE?

At Calgary Youth Physiotherapy concussion treatment focuses on safe “return to learn” and “return to play” based on the R2P concussion management protocols.

Safe progression to “return to play” means allowing the brain to heal and decreases the chances of re-injury.  The earliest a child should return to sport is one week following a concussion and should be experiencing no symptoms.

Treatment addresses neck pain, headaches, difficulty reading and focusing, sensitivity to movement (screens, cars) and rules out other potential causes of symptoms or injuries. Your physiotherapist will help guide you through a step-wise progression to safely return to learn, sport and work.