Concussion Management
in Flatiron NY, Chatham, Wharton, & Boonton NJ, Darien, CT, & Rye, NY
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A hit on the field, a fall on the ice, or a fender bender can leave you with a headache that will not quit, a foggy head, or a room that seems to tilt when you turn. Most people recover from a concussion within a few weeks, but the path back to school, work, training, and competition goes more smoothly with a plan. Concussion management at Resilient Performance Physical Therapy helps you progress activity safely, address dizziness, balance and neck problems, and get back to full speed with confidence.
What Is a Concussion?
The CDC describes a concussion as a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or by a hit to the body that makes the head and brain move quickly back and forth. That sudden movement can create chemical changes in the brain and affect how it works.
What Does a Concussion Mean for Your Recovery?
A concussion is an injury to how the brain functions, so recovery is measured by symptoms and abilities, not by a cast or an X-ray. Current sport concussion guidance has moved away from long periods of strict rest in a dark room. After a short period of relative rest, gradually reintroducing light activity is now part of the recommended approach. The key is pacing: doing enough to recover without pushing symptoms too far.
Concussion Symptoms
Symptoms can show up right away or take hours to days to appear. They often fall into four groups:
- Physical: headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, sensitivity to light or noise, vision problems
- Thinking: trouble concentrating, memory problems, feeling foggy or slowed down
- Emotional: irritability, anxiety, sadness, or feeling more emotional than usual
- Sleep: sleeping more or less than usual, or trouble falling asleep
When to Go to the Emergency Room
Call 911 or go to the emergency department right away if someone with a head injury has any of these danger signs:
- A headache that gets worse and does not go away
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Seizures or convulsions
- Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination
- Increasing confusion, restlessness, agitation, or unusual behavior
- Loss of consciousness, increasing drowsiness or inability to wake up
- One pupil larger than the other, or double vision
- Inability to recognize people or places
Concussion Causes
Sports
Concussions can happen in any sport where a fall, collision, or blow to the head is possible, from football, hockey, soccer, and lacrosse to skiing and cycling.
Falls
Falls on the playground, the stairs, or an icy sidewalk are another way concussions happen.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
The sudden acceleration and deceleration of a crash can make the head move quickly back and forth, which can cause a concussion even without a direct blow to the head. The same forces can affect the neck as well.
Other Impacts
Workplace accidents, bike and scooter crashes, and accidental blows to the head can all lead to a concussion.
Concussion Treatment
A concussion should be evaluated by a healthcare provider, who can rule out more serious injury and decide whether imaging is needed. From there, treatment generally follows a few principles drawn from current sport concussion consensus guidance:
- Relative rest for the first day or two: normal daily activities and reduced screen time, rather than strict rest.
- Early light activity: easy walking that does not more than mildly worsen symptoms can begin during the first 24 to 48 hours.
- Symptom-guided aerobic exercise: exercise intensity is increased step by step based on how symptoms responded to the previous session.
- Targeted rehabilitation: if dizziness, neck pain, or headaches last longer than about 10 days, guidance recommends rehabilitation that addresses the neck and the vestibular (balance) system.
- A gradual return to sport: each step takes at least 24 hours, and unrestricted return to sport typically happens within about a month of injury.
If symptoms last longer than four weeks, a broader assessment, ideally by a team of providers, can help identify what is driving them.
Concussion Physical Therapy
Physical therapy fills the gap between “you have a concussion” and “you are cleared.” At Resilient, one of our Doctors of Physical Therapy starts with a thorough evaluation of your injury history, current symptoms, and goals. Depending on what we find, care may address:
- Vestibular function and balance: dizziness, motion sensitivity, and steadiness when you turn your head or move quickly.
- The cervical spine: neck pain, stiffness and headaches that can accompany a concussion, especially after a fall or car accident.
- Graded aerobic exercise: a structured, symptom-guided progression so you rebuild fitness without overdoing it.
- Return to activity and sport: a stepwise plan that moves you from light activity to sport-specific training. When it is time to compete again, our return to sport programming and testing helps bridge the gap between feeling normal and being sport-ready.
Every Resilient clinician is a Hybrid Therapist: a Doctor of Physical Therapy who has also worked professionally as a strength and conditioning coach or personal trainer. That means your care does not stop when symptoms settle. It continues until you can handle everything your sport, job, or training asks of you. We also stay in communication with the specialists who co-treat our patients and can point you to the right provider if your symptoms call for it.
Wondering about cost? Read how much concussion management costs and what affects it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does concussion recovery take?
Many people feel better within a few weeks. In sport, unrestricted return typically happens within about a month of injury. Some people have symptoms that last longer, and they benefit from a more detailed assessment and targeted rehabilitation.
Should I rest in a dark room after a concussion?
Strict rest is no longer the standard recommendation. Relative rest for the first day or two, followed by light activity that does not more than mildly worsen symptoms, is the current approach. Your provider can help you set the right pace.
When should I see a physical therapist after a concussion?
Physical therapy can help early on with pacing activity and later with return to sport. It is especially worth considering if dizziness, neck pain, or headaches last longer than about 10 days.
Can a concussion cause neck pain?
It can. The force behind a concussion may affect the neck too, and current guidance recommends rehabilitation that addresses the neck when neck pain, dizziness, or headaches linger.
Contact Us
If you or your athlete is recovering from a concussion, our team can help you take the next step with a clear plan. We see patients in Flatiron and Rye, NY; Chatham, Wharton and Boonton, NJ; and Darien, CT. Contact us or schedule an appointment.
