Why should I have physical therapy after a concussion?

Concussion Physical Therapy

Concussions are a part of a category of injuries called traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Such injuries are far more common than many people are aware. One 2014 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that nearly 2.9 million ER visits were the result of a TBI. 

There is a lot of information you should know about concussions in case you develop one. Why you should seek physical therapy after a concussion is one of the most important of these pieces of information. 

4 reasons you should have physical therapy after a concussion

Physical therapy is one type of medical care that can help you recover after a concussion. You might be wondering why that is. Here are some reasons why physical therapy is something you should seek after a concussion: 

  1. It’s effective — Physical therapy can be highly effective at helping you improve your functional independence after a concussion. One medical study reports that patients who had intensive rehab after their injury were 28% more likely to achieve a maximum functional independence measure score within three months. 
  1. It can help you treat concussion symptoms — There are a list of symptoms that concussions sufferers typically develop. The symptoms on this list may include: 
  • Headaches.
  • Neck pain.
  • Nausea.
  • Dizziness and vertigo.
  • Ringing in the ears. 
  • Fatigue. 
  • Brain fog. 

Physical therapists can help you address these concussion symptoms directly. By doing so, your physical therapist can help reduce the severity of your symptoms. Your clinician can also help people who have developed chronic headaches and other symptoms. Typically, chronic symptoms occur when people wait to treat their concussion. 

  1. It can help you learn how to deal with your symptoms — You may not want to think about it, but there will be a period where you’ll have to live with your concussion symptoms. It may only be a short time for many people. Yet physical therapists can help you navigate this period of time more effectively. For instance, your physical therapist can educate you about the symptoms and movement restrictions that you may have. They can also help you learn how to do normal daily tasks in ways that can reduce the risk of a symptom flare-up. 
  1. It provides you with a concrete, personalized recovery plan — It’s hard to overestimate how important a recovery plan is. Such a plan can offer huge benefits when it’s personalized to your needs and condition. That’s just what physical therapists can offer you. They can build you a step-by-step recovery plan that you can follow. They can also adjust your plan to fit your ever-changing needs and recovery goals. 

Border TS offers top-notch concussion physical therapy services

Eager to start getting physical therapy for your concussion? Our Border Therapy Services physical therapists are ready and willing to help you address concussion symptoms. We can start by doing a free screening on you. Then, our clinicians can create a recovery plan for you that’s customized to your condition, needs and goals. 

Contact our team today for more information about how we can help you address a concussion or to schedule your initial appointment.