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Dizziness and concussion
Concussion and post concussion symptom treatment in Shirley, MA
The short answer
Most people feel better within a few weeks of a concussion. When dizziness, headaches, blurry or jumpy vision, fogginess, or trouble in busy places hang on, the balance system, the eyes, and the neck are often part of the reason. Physical therapy with vestibular and eye exercises, neck care and a gradual, symptom guided return to activity helps many people get back to school, work and sport.
On this page
What keeps concussion symptoms going
A concussion is a brain injury, and recovery is different for everyone. These are common reasons symptoms linger.
- Balance system changes
- Dizziness and unsteadiness with head turns, screens or busy places.
- Eyes and head out of sync
- Trouble reading, blurry vision with movement or eyes that tire fast.
- Neck strain
- The same hit that causes a concussion often strains the neck, which can add to headaches and dizziness.
- Too much rest, or too much too soon
- Long, strict rest and jumping back in too fast can both slow recovery. A guided middle path works best for most people.
When to get it checked
Anyone with a suspected concussion should be seen by a doctor, and athletes should not return to play the same day. Get help from a physical therapist if dizziness, headaches, vision problems or fogginess last more than a couple of weeks, or keep you out of school, work or sport. Go to the emergency room right away for repeated vomiting, a headache that keeps getting worse, confusion, unusual sleepiness, slurred speech, weakness or numbness, a seizure, or one pupil larger than the other.
What you can do at home right now
These are safe starting points for most people. They are not a replacement for a proper evaluation.
- Stay lightly active
- After the first day or two, easy walks and normal daily activity that do not make symptoms much worse usually help.
- Take screen breaks
- Short screen sessions with breaks are better than hours at once or none at all.
- Protect your sleep
- A regular bedtime and wake time help the brain recover.
How we treat concussion at Whole Health Solutions
Your physical therapist is with you for the whole appointment, start to finish. We test your balance system, eyes, neck and exercise tolerance, and work with your doctor and athletic trainer.
01
Relieve
Calm the dizziness and neck related headaches with gentle vestibular exercises and hands-on neck care.
02
Rebuild
Eye and head coordination, balance and a gradual exercise plan that builds your tolerance step-by-step.
03
Perform
Back to school, work, driving, and a step-by-step return to sport, once you are cleared. When you are ready, our athletic performance coaches help you get game ready.
04
Thrive
Stay with the team that knows you. Check ins, training and a quick tune up whenever something new comes up, so this stays in the past.
Thrive is not a finish line. When you are ready for your next goal, the same team that got you here is ready too.
★★★★★
"Julia created a personalized rehabilitation and strength program that focused on knee stability, mobility, strength, and injury prevention."
Talk to our vestibular physical therapist
A free consult to tell us what is going on and see if we can help.
Common questions about concussion recovery
Can physical therapy help after a concussion?
Yes. Physical therapy can help with lingering dizziness, balance problems, vision trouble with movement, neck pain and headaches, and guide a safe return to exercise and sport.
When should I start physical therapy after a concussion?
If symptoms are not clearly improving after a couple of weeks, or are keeping you from normal life, it is a good time to start. Get checked by a doctor first after any head injury.
Should I rest in a dark room after a concussion?
A day or two of relative rest is fine. After that, most people do better with light activity that does not make symptoms much worse, rather than strict rest.
Do I need a referral for concussion physical therapy?
No. You can book directly with us. Most of our clients do use their insurance for reimbursement of our physical therapy services. We go over everything in the discovery meeting.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Everyone is different, so the best next step is an evaluation with one of our physical therapists.
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Serving 22+ nearby towns and beyond
2 Shaker Road, Suite C200, Shirley, MA 01464. Monday to Thursday, 5:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday, 5:00 am to 3:00 pm, and Saturday, 6:00 am to 1:00 pm.