Signs and symptoms of a concussion should not be taken lightly. Early action to properly address a concussion before damage progresses is important. Early detection and action significantly improve overall quality of life by preventing long-term undesired symptoms. Here are a few things to remember if you suspect a concussion.
1. Early diagnosis is important because early recognition is associated with better health outcomes for patients.
Each head injury is unique and requires a comprehensive neurologic examination that emphasizes cognition, memory, vision, eye movements, balance, coordination and hearing. There is an association between early balance problems and poor recovery of a concussion. A majority of concussion patients (90%) manifest with problems moving their eyes. No two concussions are the same and as a result, no two concussion treatment programs can be identical.
2. There is no scientific evidence that prolonged rest for more than several weeks in concussed patients is beneficial.
Current guidelines recommend a period of cognitive and physical rest in the early post-injury period because symptoms can increase with cognitive and physical exertion. However, prolonged rest, especially in athletes, can lead to physical deconditioning, metabolic disturbances, and secondary symptoms such as fatigue and reactive depression. Experimental animal data show that premature voluntary exercise within the first week after concussion impairs recovery, while aerobic exercise performed 14-21 days after the concussion improves cognitive performance. Research is continuing to support that if a patient is still symptomatic after 4 weeks after the concussion, early active rehabilitation is warranted.
3. There are many therapies on the market for concussion.
Vestibular rehabilitation and vision therapy have resulted in improvement of dizziness and balance after a concussion. Manual therapy to the neck has been shown to improve headaches and dizziness when the concussion has resulted in an injury to the neck. Overall neck strength has been found to be a significant predictor of concussion and for every one pound of increased neck strength, it is estimated that you decrease your risk of concussion by 5%.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega 3 fatty acid commonly found in fish oil, has been postulated to be effective in reducing inflammation due to the secondary injury of concussion. Research has shown combining voluntary exercise with DHA is effective to counteract the effects of a concussion on cognitive function and brain cell health. There is also research to support the use of neurofeedback, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, low-level laser, and cognitive behavioral therapy in concussion rehabilitation.
If you suspect someone has a concussion, find a concussion specialist for accurate diagnosis and management.
