Athletes who have experienced a concussion can experience a variety of physical and cognitive (thinking) symptoms including headaches, brain fog, mood changes, or decreased endurance. These symptoms can impact your ability to complete your normal daily activities. Initially, you may need accommodations at work or school to complete activities without significantly increasing your symptoms. Each athlete's journey to returning to sport is individualized based on the type and intensity of symptoms after concussion. Your therapist will be monitoring both your physical readiness as well as cognitive readiness.
Current recommendations follow a progression to return an athlete to play after a concussion:
Return to regular activities (school or work)
Light aerobic activity
Moderate aerobic activity
Heavy activity without contact
Return to practice with contact
Return to competition
Your therapist will monitor your physical and cognitive symptoms at each state of activity. It is recommended that each athlete complete a stage without symptoms before moving to the next stage. This allows your brain to recover and accommodate to each level of activity without overloading it and causing more symptoms. The timeline for returning to play can be different for each athlete and may take weeks to months.
It is important to work with a therapist after concussion to help progress your recovery and return to sport. Athletes who return to sport too soon are at risk for further injuries or prolonged symptoms that can significantly impact their physical and cognitive function.
The therapists at Engage Therapy are experienced in working with people with concussion and can help you return to doing the things you love. Don’t let a concussion prevent you from doing the things you love! Call our office at 315-810-2423 or email us at info@brainbodybetter.com with questions.
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