Concussion Management
A concussion can affect balance, vision, headaches, focus, mood, sleep, and tolerance for activity. Concussion management can help athletes, students, and active people get back to school, sports, work, and daily routines safely.
The physical therapists at Ivy Rehab provide care to support recovery after a sport-related concussion, fall, motor vehicle crash, or other head injury.
What Is Concussion Management?
Concussion management is a plan to gradually return to activity after a concussion, which is a type of mild traumatic brain injury. It includes monitoring concussion symptoms, addressing balance or vestibular issues, supporting neck mobility, and guiding a safe return to school, work, exercise, and sports.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that athletes return to sports only with approval and supervision from a healthcare provider. Each step of the process usually takes at least 24 hours and should be based on how symptoms respond.
Concussion Management at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy
Concussion recovery is different for everyone. Some people need help with dizziness and balance. Others need support for headaches, neck pain, screen tolerance, exercise tolerance, or going back to school and sports.
Your Ivy Rehab physical therapist starts by learning how the injury happened, what symptoms you have, and what daily activities feel harder. They may check balance, vestibular function, eye movement, neck mobility, exertion tolerance, and movement patterns.
From there, your care plan is paced around your symptoms and goals. If symptoms get worse, your therapist adjusts the plan so recovery keeps moving without pushing your body too far too soon.
Who Can Benefit From Concussion Management?
Most back pain improves with self-care, activity changes, Concussion management may be a good fit for:
- Athletes who have had a sport-related concussion.
- Children, teens, or adolescents returning to school after a head injury.
- Adults recovering after a fall, motor vehicle accident, or other impact.
- People with dizziness, headaches, balance issues, neck pain, light sensitivity, or trouble concentrating.
- People with post-concussive symptoms that last longer than expected.
- Anyone who needs supervision when returning to sports, school, or other activities.
Seek medical care right away if symptoms are severe, getting worse, or include red flags such as repeated vomiting, slurred speech, weakness, seizures, unusual behavior, or loss of consciousness.
Our Concussion Management Services
Care can include several types of support depending on your symptoms, age, activity level, and recovery goals. Your physical therapist will help decide which services fit your treatment plan.
Concussion Assessment and Baseline Testing
A concussion assessment gives your therapist a clear picture of your current symptoms and recovery needs. It may include balance testing, vestibular screening, eye-movement checks, neck assessment, exertion testing, and a review of school, sport, work, or daily activity demands.
When available, baseline testing can help compare current function with pre-injury measures and guide return-to-activity decisions.
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Vestibular rehab supports people with dizziness, balance changes, motion sensitivity, or trouble with head movement after a concussion. Treatment may include gaze-stability exercises, balance training, walking drills, and gradual exposure to movement that triggers symptoms.
The goal is to reduce dizziness and improve steadiness during daily activities, school, work, and sports.
Vision and Oculomotor Support
A concussion can affect how the eyes track, focus, and work together. Vision and oculomotor support may help when symptoms include eye strain, blurred vision, headaches with reading, trouble focusing, or sensitivity to busy environments.
Your therapist may use targeted exercises and activity modifications to support screen use, reading, schoolwork, and other visual tasks.
Cervical and Musculoskeletal Therapy
Head injuries often happen with neck strain, stiffness, headaches, or upper-body tension. Cervical and musculoskeletal therapy addresses the neck and surrounding muscles that may contribute to ongoing symptoms.
Care may include gentle manual therapy, mobility work, strengthening, posture guidance, and exercises that support safer movement.
Sub-Symptom Threshold Exercise
Complete rest isn’t always the best long-term plan after the first brief recovery period. Sub-symptom threshold exercise uses carefully monitored physical activity that stays below the level that makes symptoms worse.
This approach helps rebuild tolerance for physical activity without pushing symptoms.
Gradual Return to School, Sport, or Activity
Going back too quickly can make symptoms worse or increase the risk of another injury. A gradual plan to return to activities moves in stages. Each step is based on symptoms and guidance from your healthcare providers.
Your therapist can help coordinate return to school, work, exercise, practice, or competition when appropriate.
How We Approach Concussion Management
Step 1: Initial Evaluation
Your first visit focuses on your symptoms, injury history, daily routines, school or work needs, and activity goals. Your therapist checks the systems that often affect concussion recovery, including balance, vestibular function, neck mobility, vision-related movement, and exercise tolerance.
Step 2: Symptom-Guided Treatment
Treatment is based on how your body responds. Your plan may include vestibular rehab, neck treatment, balance training, guided aerobic exercise, visual-motor activities, education, and home strategies.
Progress, not speed, is the priority. If symptoms flare, your therapist adjusts the plan.
Step 3: Gradual Return to School, Sport, or Activity
Returning to normal activity follows a staged plan. You move forward when your symptoms, function, and healthcare provider guidance show you are ready for the next step.
Your therapist can communicate with your physician, school, athletic trainer, coach, or care team when needed.
Take the first step toward relief.
You don’t have to live with back pain. Ivy Rehab’s expert team is ready to help you move better, feel stronger, and enjoy life without limitations. Schedule an appointment today for the best treatment for back pain.