Concussion Care NorthWest
What exactly is a concussion?
A concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), often happens when the brain is exposed to excessive forces. This can happen from a direct blow to the head, face, neck, or chest, as well as an indirect blow elsewhere of the body causing a jarring to occur in the head. This may or may not involve a brief loss of consciousness. Concussions are often short-lived and often go unnoticed, as they can affect you very differently from someone else. This often makes them difficult to detect and to ultimately treat. Symptoms may be immediate, or take minutes to hours to develop. Normally, imaging studies (i.e. MRI) do not show anything to concretely diagnose a concussion such as a hemorrhage making concussion further difficult to diagnose. However, guidelines for diagnosing concussion early on are available, and when applied by trained professionals, can improve your ability to access care quickly and regain your normal life ultimately returning you to school, play, work and life in a safer manner.
Concussions present very differently between people, and also very differently in children than adults, or in athletes. It is important to recognize that concussions are not bias to race, gender, age or socio-economic status and they can happen to anyone, but are common in:
But I’m still not sure if I’ve had a concussion?
Often patients who are experiencing a concussion, or post-concussion symptoms describe changes in physical, emotional and cognitive abilities, including:
What is normal to expect when I’m treated?
Assessment and treatment following a concussion often involves addressing any depression, anxiety or irritability, as well as improving the quality of your sleep and managing any post-injury headache. It is important to have these things addressed early on, rather than waiting to see if they go away on their own. Secondly, trained professionals with extensive knowledge and experience managing concussion will provide you with specific activities to improve your balance, reduce your dizziness/vertigo, reduce any cognitive changes, fatigue and/or sensitivity to noise, as well as provide you with a very strategic plan of care. Treatment normally involves a “team” approach between a medical doctor as well as physiotherapists (PTs), speech-language pathologists (S-LPs) and other professionals who are trained in concussion care.
So how is Concussion Care NorthWest (CCNW) different and how can it help me, or my family?
Well, the first part in answering this question is that we are unique in our approach, which is rooted in current research, education and rapid communication. Our approach provides you with an individualized, unique, 1-on-1 and face-to-face experience with an interdisciplinary team that provides you with a single point of access to trained:
Our approach is two-tiered, and geared towards screening those at risk of having a concussion, as well as those who are now injured and needing care. CCNW provides services for:
CCNW is founded on evidence-based guidelines, a diverse interdisciplinary health care team, and rapid response following injury. But overall, it is founded based on YOU as the patient and your plan of care becomes as unique as your life or goals are. We are proud to be your “missing link” to concussion screening and recovery after concussion and our goal is to help you successfully return to school, play, work and most importantly life. Contact us today to inquire about our services and to book your consultation. Wishing you all the best in your goals! Play Hard, Work Smart and Live Safe!
What exactly is a concussion?
A concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), often happens when the brain is exposed to excessive forces. This can happen from a direct blow to the head, face, neck, or chest, as well as an indirect blow elsewhere of the body causing a jarring to occur in the head. This may or may not involve a brief loss of consciousness. Concussions are often short-lived and often go unnoticed, as they can affect you very differently from someone else. This often makes them difficult to detect and to ultimately treat. Symptoms may be immediate, or take minutes to hours to develop. Normally, imaging studies (i.e. MRI) do not show anything to concretely diagnose a concussion such as a hemorrhage making concussion further difficult to diagnose. However, guidelines for diagnosing concussion early on are available, and when applied by trained professionals, can improve your ability to access care quickly and regain your normal life ultimately returning you to school, play, work and life in a safer manner.
Concussions present very differently between people, and also very differently in children than adults, or in athletes. It is important to recognize that concussions are not bias to race, gender, age or socio-economic status and they can happen to anyone, but are common in:
- children
- car or work accidents
- athletes
But I’m still not sure if I’ve had a concussion?
Often patients who are experiencing a concussion, or post-concussion symptoms describe changes in physical, emotional and cognitive abilities, including:
- trauma with or without loss of consciousness prior to symptoms up to 4 weeks after
- 3 or more of the following
- headache, dizziness, malaise, fatigue, noise intolerance, irritability, depression, anxiety, emotional lability
- reported difficulty in concentrating, memory, intellectual difficulties, insomnia, reduced alcohol tolerance and/or adoption of sickness behaviour
- changes in vision, dizziness, ringing in their ears (tinnitus), trouble sleeping, balance difficulties, nausea, feeling “slowed down” … “foggy” … “dazed.”
What is normal to expect when I’m treated?
Assessment and treatment following a concussion often involves addressing any depression, anxiety or irritability, as well as improving the quality of your sleep and managing any post-injury headache. It is important to have these things addressed early on, rather than waiting to see if they go away on their own. Secondly, trained professionals with extensive knowledge and experience managing concussion will provide you with specific activities to improve your balance, reduce your dizziness/vertigo, reduce any cognitive changes, fatigue and/or sensitivity to noise, as well as provide you with a very strategic plan of care. Treatment normally involves a “team” approach between a medical doctor as well as physiotherapists (PTs), speech-language pathologists (S-LPs) and other professionals who are trained in concussion care.
So how is Concussion Care NorthWest (CCNW) different and how can it help me, or my family?
Well, the first part in answering this question is that we are unique in our approach, which is rooted in current research, education and rapid communication. Our approach provides you with an individualized, unique, 1-on-1 and face-to-face experience with an interdisciplinary team that provides you with a single point of access to trained:
- Certified Sports Medicine Physician
- Physiotherapists
- Speech-Language Pathologists
Our approach is two-tiered, and geared towards screening those at risk of having a concussion, as well as those who are now injured and needing care. CCNW provides services for:
- Pre-Concussion screening for individuals, and teams/groups, based on current, research-based guidelines of physical and cognitive abilities. This allows rapid communication between you and your current health providers and/or team, guided by your PT and SLP from the program.
- Post-Concussion care for those who have experienced a concussion early on, or who have been struggling for some time following a concussion. Post-concussion care typically involves detailed assessment by a Certified Sports Medicine Physician to determine the appropriate path for your care. Following this, involvement of your current health care providers, or our interdisciplinary team at CCNW is rapidly organized in order to start helping you to recover and achieve your return to school, play, work and life goals.
- Often a required component of recovery from concussion involves specific physical and cognitive re-training including vestibular assessment and treatment. Our therapists are trained extensively in vestibular rehabilitation, as well Infrared Video Frenzel assessment, Capnography evaluation and cognitive communication which may be utilized along your recovery.
CCNW is founded on evidence-based guidelines, a diverse interdisciplinary health care team, and rapid response following injury. But overall, it is founded based on YOU as the patient and your plan of care becomes as unique as your life or goals are. We are proud to be your “missing link” to concussion screening and recovery after concussion and our goal is to help you successfully return to school, play, work and most importantly life. Contact us today to inquire about our services and to book your consultation. Wishing you all the best in your goals! Play Hard, Work Smart and Live Safe!