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Recognizing Signs of a Concussion

June 12, 2024 | Tips & Trends
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A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury. Concussions can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that causes the brain to move inside the skull. In the United States, between 1.6 to 3.8 million sports-related and recreational concussions occur annually. High risk sports include soccer, football, lacrosse, field or ice hockey, and cheerleading. Concussions also can occur from non-sport activities such as riding a bike, a fall, or a motor vehicle accident. No matter the cause, concussions should be treated properly.

In high school comparable sports, females have a higher concussion rate than males. Female athletes have also been shown to experience more post-concussive symptoms and have a greater recovery time as compared with males.

Signs of a Concussion

Concussion symptoms usually appear within minutes of the injury, but some symptoms may take several hours to occur. Anyone with a suspected injury, especially from a sports-related impact, should be examined for a concussion or a spine injury. You do not need to have lost consciousness to have a concussion.

If you suspect your child has suffered a concussion, they may exhibit the following symptoms:

  • Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Balance problems, dizziness, or double or blurry vision.
  • Sensitivity to light or noise.
  • A sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy feeling.
  • Confusion or problems with concentration or memory.

You also may notice, or they may express, that they are “just not feeling right” or are “feeling down.”

What to Do If You Suspect a Concussion

  • Cease play or immediately remove the athlete from play.
  • Get examined as soon as possible by a licensed health care provider. This can include an athletic trainer, physical therapist, or physician.
  • Rest for 24-48 hours, and then begin a gradual return to activity that starts with a walking program. Gradually work your way up to walking 30 minutes per day. Note: When starting a concussion recovery program, walking is generally safe even if you experience a slight increase in symptoms. Completing an early supervised exercise program has been shown to improve recovery.
  • Limit screen time during the first 48 hours. You may resume screen time after 48 hours as long as symptoms do not increase significantly.
  • Return to school after 2 to 3 days. Studies support a return to school in this time frame with accommodations if needed.
  • Get good nighttime sleep. This is important for recovery, and you may need more nighttime sleep in the early days after a concussion. Try to avoid daytime napping to keep a normal sleep-wake cycle.
  • Stay close to an adult after a suspected concussion. A child or athlete should not be left alone after the injury.
  • Monitor symptoms closely. If they worsen, seek an evaluation in the emergency room to determine if a more serious brain injury exists.

Sometimes concussion symptoms persist for longer than 7 to 10 days. If so, a physical therapist can assess symptoms and treat lingering issues by guiding you through a safe and personalized recovery program.

Physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement. To find a Phoenix Physical Therapy location near you, click here.

Article courtesy of APTA.

The entire Phoenix Physical Therapy Team is committed to providing our patients with quality physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy in a safe and healthy clinic environment. We continue to follow the guidance provided by the CDC, WHO and public health officials to update you as new information becomes available. Let’s work together to keep each other safe and healthy.

The safety of our patients, communities and team members remains our top priority. We know you have a choice in your care providers and appreciate your commitment to Phoenix and our qualified clinicians.

Here are the actions we have taken to keep our patients, communities and team healthy & safe:

  • Flexible scheduling allows for social distancing
  • Regular cleaning and sanitation of all clinic surfaces
  • Facemasks must be worn by all Phoenix staff and are recommended for all patients
  • Screening questionnaire and temperature checks prior to entering clinics
  • 6 feet of social distancing throughout the clinics

Keeping Our Clinics Safe

Here are some tips on how we can keep each other safe:

  • Handwashing is your best self-defense against the spread of germs. When soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Please stay home if you are not feeling well, especially if you have a fever, are coughing or sneezing, or are experiencing shortness of breath. If a patient shows up with symptoms, the clinic team will work with them to reschedule.
  • Be vigilant. If you have traveled to any of the countries where there are outbreaks of the virus, please follow guidance from the CDC website and our Travel Guidelines.

Here are actions we are taking to keep our clinics clean and safe:

  • Equipment will be wiped down after EVERY use with antibacterial wipes/sprays
  • All surfaces that patients or staff may touch including door handles, countertops, seating, pens at sign-in, bathroom and all other common areas will be disinfected regularly
  • Treatment tables will be 6 feet apart
  • Team members will wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezin
  • Clinics will have hand sanitizer available at the front desk and in the treatment areas
  • Any Phoenix team members who are ill will be asked to stay home
  • We will maintain social distancing between patients in the clinic
  • Caregivers that are bringing a patient to the clinic should wait in their car or come back when the appointment has ended unless necessary (i.e. minor requiring a guardian or for assistance needs)
  • When possible, we will treat patients in private rooms to increase social distancing
  • Any patients that have underlying health issues (i.e. diabetes, respiratory problems, etc.) will be given the option to be seen during special clinic hours or can opt to be treated in a private room away from other clinicians and patients
  • All patients should be self-screening before entering the clinic. Our PCCs will perform a secondary screening during the check-in process and before patients enter the clinic including a screening questionnaire and temperature check.
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