Concussion Rehabilitation

Who Needs Concussion Rehabilitation?

A concussion can occur from any blow to the head, like a car accident or bad fall, not just sports injuries. These accidents cause the brain to bump up against the skull, damaging sensitive tissue.

You may need rehabilitation if concussion symptoms do not improve within a few weeks of a head injury. Symptoms may include:

• Brain fog, which can make it difficult to pay attention
• Daytime drowsiness and other sleep problems
• Dizziness and feeling unsteady on your feet
• Headaches, such as a throbbing sensation toward the front of your head
• Tiring quickly (fatigue)
• Vision changes, including double vision and sensitivity to light

Concussion Rehabilitation at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital: Why Choose Us?

For lingering symptoms, the best care starts with a timely assessment and therapies tailored to your needs. These services are available from the experienced team at Sunnyview.

Highlights of our program include:

• Expertise: Physical medicine doctors (physiatrists) specializing in brain injuries with decades of experience guide your care. They detect easy-to-miss concussion symptoms that require treatment and ensure you receive appropriate therapies.
• Team approach: Our team also includes physical and occupational therapists, neuropsychologists, neurologists and ophthalmologists. They work closely with the physiatrist to help you achieve the best possible results.
• Easy access: We typically see new patients within a few business days. If you need to see a specialist, we coordinate the referral and share important details about your needs. These efforts keep your recovery moving forward. 

Comprehensive Assessments for Concussion Symptoms

The signs of a concussion do not show up on imaging tests. That’s why it is important to seek care from experienced specialists, such as those on our team. We use a reputable concussion assessment, Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT®), to assess your symptoms.

The physiatrist performs a brief physical exam and asks you about:

• The head injury and whether you lost consciousness
• Symptoms and whether they get worse with physical activity or while trying to concentrate
• Medical history, including previous concussions

We may also refer you to specialists for additional testing:

• Neurologists assess brain functioning, including your reflexes, nerves and ability to track movement with your eyes
• Neuropsychologists evaluate the impact of a concussion on your ability to think and concentrate

Concussion Treatments

For most people, concussion symptoms get better with rest and time. But for severe concussions or one with symptoms that won’t go away, treatments can help. For all concussion patients, it’s important to ease back into daily activities.

Concussion treatments may include:

• Medication, including over-the-counter pain relievers to help you get relief from headaches 
• Occupational therapy, which uses a variety of techniques to lift brain fog and gradually increase your concentration
• Vestibular therapy, in which specially trained physical therapists address issues with balance and coordination 
• Vision (ocular) therapy, which includes eye exercises and looking through special glasses to restore normal vision
• Work or school accommodations, including specific recommendations and doctor’s notes to support a gradual return to work, school and sports