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Traumatic Brains Injuries (TBIs) & Concussions

March 5, 2018 | Industry News
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Teen following eyes to doctor's moving finger.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are a result of a direct blow to the head or an indirect force such as whiplash.  This impact causes the brain to violently shake inside the skull.  TBIs can be classified and broken down into three categories:  mild, moderate and severe. Concussions are considered mild TBIs, but make no mistake; they are still a very serious injury that can have fatal consequences if ignored.  TBIs that are considered moderate or severe are characterized by serious physical, cognitive and emotional changes in the brain that require hospitalization, and can cause disability.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person, but there are many physical, emotional and mental effects that you can watch for.  Common physical symptoms include but are not limited to headaches, dizziness, poor balance/coordination, nausea/vomiting, fatigue/sleepiness, double or blurred vision, light/sound sensitivity, slurred speech or distant stare.  Noticeable cognitive symptoms could include memory loss, confusion, slow metal processing, fogginess or difficulty concentrating.  Possible emotional effects are irritability, restlessness, anxiety/depression, mood swings, aggression or change in personality/behavior.  Because of the variety of potential symptoms can impair day-to-day functions, it is important to seek coordinated medical care immediately.  It is additionally important that extreme care is taken to avoid a second concussion.  Second-impact syndrome, what happens when two concussions occur close together, can cause permanent brain damage.

Diagnosis

TBIs are normally diagnosed by evaluating the person’s ability to move, speak and think in response to commands or questions.  Diagnosis cannot rely on hi-tech testing or brain scans because they often don’t show any brain abnormality, even when a person is showing signs of a TBI.

How Can a Physical Therapist Help?

Physical therapists can help evaluate and treat several problem areas following a concussion.  Because no two concussions are the same, determining the specific symptoms and limitations following each concussion is an important part of the physical therapy examination.  If you are experiencing dizziness or having difficulty maintaining balance following a concussion, vestibular physical therapy may be able to help.  The vestibular system, which includes the inner ear and its connections with the brain, is responsible for sensing head movement, keeping the eyes focused during head movement and helping to maintain balance.  A qualified vestibular physical therapist can perform treatments and prescribe specific exercises to significantly reduce or eliminate dizziness and increase balance and stability.  As some of your symptoms following concussion resolve, a physical therapist can also help to reintroduce a gradual and progressing level of physical activity, being careful not to overload the brain and nervous system compromised by a concussion.  With a concussion, like every other medical diagnosis, it is important that the recommendations of all medical professionals be followed in order to maximize recovery in the shortest amount of time.

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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