Concussion treatment is active and guided. It starts with an assessment, followed by a step-by-step plan for returning to school, work and sport, plus treatment for the neck pain, dizziness and headaches that can come with a concussion.
Long periods of complete rest in a dark room are no longer the standard advice. After a short period of relative rest in the first 24 to 48 hours, a gradual return to activity is recommended.
What our service includes
- Assessment. A review of how the injury happened, your symptoms and your history, and a physical exam.
- Guided progression. We follow a 10-step return model from Complete Concussion Management Inc. If symptoms get worse, you go back a step.
- Treatment for related problems. Care for neck pain, dizziness and headaches that can follow a concussion.
- Advice for home, school and work. What to do, what to limit and how to pace your day.
When to come in
As soon as possible after the injury, once emergencies have been ruled out. Early guidance gives you a plan from the start. It is also worth coming in if weeks have passed and you still have symptoms.
How this fits with your doctor
We work alongside your medical care, not in place of it. In Ontario, a physician or nurse practitioner should assess a suspected concussion, and their medical clearance is required before an athlete returns to unrestricted practice or competition. See do I need medical clearance to return to sport in Ontario?
What you can do yourself
- Keep to light daily activity that does not make symptoms worse
- Protect your sleep and eat regularly
- Return to school or work in stages
- Avoid any activity with a risk of another hit until you are cleared
When it is an emergency
Call 911 or go to emergency for loss of consciousness, a seizure, repeated vomiting, a severe or worsening headache, double vision, increasing confusion, or weakness or tingling in the arms or legs.
No treatment can promise a recovery date, and every plan is adjusted to how you respond. More detail is on the concussion management page.
Want a plan for your recovery?