EP Physio Plus

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion is a brain injury caused by acceleration or deceleration of the brain
following a significant impact to the head or elsewhere on the body. The impact
causes dysfunction within brain cells and decreased blood flow, resulting in
temporary deficits in brain function.

Symptoms may include loss of consciousness, headache, pressure in the head, neck
pain, nausea or vomiting, cognitive problems, dizziness, or balance problems,
among others.

To further understand what a concussion is, watch this video for a deeper
explanation from Dr. Cameron Marshall (@Concussion_Doc)!

Concussion Treatment

Following a concussion injury, it is recommended that you seek the care of a
healthcare professional with training and experience in concussion as soon as
possible. In fact, recent studies have concluded that one of the best predictors of
concussion recovery was how fast you were assessed at a concussion clinic.

The earlier you seek quality concussion care, the better your recovery will be.

Generally, a period of relative "symptom-limited" physical and cognitive rest is
recommended for the first 24-48 hours after injury. After this rest period, a gradual
increase in mental and physical activity is recommended. For optimal recovery, this
process should be directed and supervised by a licensed healthcare practitioner
trained in concussion management.

If symptoms of a concussion are still present after 7 to 10 days, an individualized
treatment and rehabilitation program should be initiated.

The scientific evidence indicates that concussion is best treated with early
application of specific cardio exercise programs, rehabilitation for the visual and
vestibular systems, treatment aimed at the neck and associated whiplash, dietary
and supplement recommendations, as well as patient education.

Pre-season Testing

Multimodal pre-season testing (AKA Baseline Concussion Testing) is a series of
physical and cognitive tests that provide a pre-injury overview of healthy brain
function. In other words, we test your balance, your reaction time, your memory,
your visual tracking speed, and a whole bunch of other brain functions. This gives us
a map of how your brain functions when you are healthy.

If you sustain a concussion, we can use your pre-injury results to see not only where
the deficits are, but how much deficit exists. This can help us both with our
treatment strategy and with developing a better understanding of when you're brain
has recovered and you are safe to return to your sport.

It’s important to remember that not all baseline testing is created equal. The
Complete Concussions protocol is unique in that it combines the best evidence-
based tools available so that you are getting the most complete brain map available.

Baseline Testing Video

Concussion Tracker Smartphone Application

The Concussion Tracker smartphone app supports safer return-to-sport decisions
for young athletes and helps with your concussion care overall. The app captures
and shares an athletes’ concussion status in real time and allows concussed patients
to interact with their care provider and provide regular symptom updates and
clinical check-ins.

Where a concussion hits, Concussion Tracker allows users to:

Perform neurocognitive assessments and compare to baseline

Report and track concussions

Conduct sideline assessments

Ensure seamless communication

Record athlete’s recovery status and timeline

Scan and share medical documents

Track daily symptoms for recovery progress

Store and view pre-season baseline concussion test results

Download the Concussion Tracker app for free today on the
App Store and Google Play!

Complete Concussions Services