Do you remember watching a sporting event where an athlete took either a direct hit to the head or a jolting body blow, and the play-by-play announcer casually stated that he “got his bell rung”? Or maybe that he was “dazed”?

The truth is, concussions can be extremely serious and potentially devastating brain injuries that require examination, diagnosis, and in many cases, treatment.

What Causes a Concussion?

You might not even know you have a concussion, which is the scary part. It doesn’t always take a forceful blow to cause a head injury. All that’s necessary is enough force applied to the body to make the brain bump the inside of the skull. This can be videonystamography caused by different events that could occur in a number of scenarios:

• Whiplash from a fall or accident
• Direct trauma to the head (in sporting events, falls, car accidents, physical assault)
• Or a severe enough jolt to the body that causes a whiplash-like movement of the head and neck

Some of these events may result in enough of an impact that you might suspect you’ve sustained a concussion. Other events, such as impact without contact to the head, may not seem serious enough to feel that you suffered a head injury; you must get evaluated for a concussion in these situations, even if you feel fine.

Symptoms of a Concussion

There are some obvious signs of a concussion when memory, reflexes, judgment, balance, speech, and/or muscle coordination are affected. If a concussion is severe enough, brief periods of amnesia might occur; other victims might simply feel as if they’re in a haze.

Regardless of the symptoms, any potential concussion should be taken seriously–there is no such thing as a “minor” concussion. And diagnosing a concussion is critical because once concussions begin layering on top of one another, they significantly increase a person’s chance of suffering permanent damage.

These are some of the more common symptoms of a concussion:

• Confusion
• Headache
• Vision disturbances (double or blurry vision, “seeing stars”)
• Dizziness or imbalance
• Nausea or vomiting
• Memory loss
• Ringing ears
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sensitivity to light
• Loss of smell or taste
• Trouble falling asleep

If you experience any of these after a blow to the head or the body, you must get evaluated. This will most likely involve a doctor’s physical and neurological examination, possibly followed by tests such as CT scans or MRIs.

Another process has also become a more frequent and accurate evaluator of concussions–videonystamography. This tests central motor functions and the inner ear through infrared technology to help diagnose motion sickness, dizziness, and other inner ear or central motor issues through eye movement.

This device, often called a VNG machine (much easier to say than videonystamography), reliably identifies concussions, vertigo, and other sensory disorders or neurological conditions. And, as a convenience to you, Physical Therapy Now owns a VNG machine. The beauty in that is, the VNG machine is easily transported from one location to another, so we’re able to evaluate concussions right in our building–no need to drive around town for another doctor’s appointment.

How Physical Therapy Can Help Treat Concussion Symptoms

For a concussion to heal, plenty of rest and inactivity are required. However, not many people are aware that physical therapy can alleviate many of the symptoms associated with concussions.

At Physical Therapy Now, we offer therapies such as hydrotherapy, therapeutic massage, and acupuncture to help reduce the symptoms you feel from a concussion. However, the most difficult parts of the concussion–the discomfort and pain you feel from its symptoms–can be alleviated through physical therapy. For example, certain stretches and light exercises may help reduce headache pain, while eye exercises can assist with any vision issues.

Treatment For Concussion Symptoms

The most important thing you can do is get yourself evaluated if you believe you have sustained a concussion. Any head and brain injury must be diagnosed so you can avoid further similar injuries in the future. At Physical Therapy Now, we can evaluate you for a concussion with our VNG machine and begin your treatment right away, in the same facility.

Call us at (800) 481-4582 today to set up an appointment. We’re here to help you feel comfortable and get back to your regular routine as quickly–but as safely–as possible.