Ask Dr. Nick
On today’s episode, Dr. Nick talks about the theory behind using neuro-rehabilitation for post-concussion syndrome treatment. After a concussion, there are many changes that can occur in the brain. One of these is a lack of blood flow control to different areas within the brain. The brain receives about 20% of the body’s blood flow, but as different areas become active, blood flow needs to be shunted to these areas. This neurovascular coupling is essential for the brain to be working efficiently, but a concussion can cause long-term disruption of this mechanism leading to symptoms of headaches, fatigue, and cognitive problems. Neuro-rehabilitation works to restore neurovascular coupling by progressively and specifically exercising brain areas to improve blood flow there. Check out the video for more in depth information on how neuro-rehabilitation can help improve post-concussion symptoms!
Wing BH, Tucker BJ, Fong AK, Allen MD. Developing the Standard of Care for Post-Concussion Treatment: Neuroimaging-Guided Rehabilitation of Neurovascular Coupling. Open Neuroimag J. 2017;11:58-71.
