Suspect a Concussion? Know What to Do Next.
What is a concussion
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that can affect the way your brain functions.
It can impact your thinking, memory, balance, vision, energy levels, emotions and ability to work, study or play sport.
While many people recover well, some continue to experience symptoms for weeks or months after the initial injury.
At Melbourne Headache + Concussion Group, we provide comprehensive concussion assessment and management to help identify what is driving your symptoms and guide your recovery with confidence.
Physical
Emotional
Sleep
Cognitive
What Causes a Concussion?
A concussion occurs when a force to the head, neck or body causes the brain to move rapidly within the skull.
Common causes include:
• Direct impact to the head
• Whiplash type injuries
• Sporting collisions
• Falls
• Motor vehicle accidents
Importantly, you do not need to be knocked unconscious to sustain a concussion.
Many people who experience concussion remain awake and alert immediately after the incident.
Why Do Some Concussions Take Longer To Recover?
Most people recover from concussion within a few weeks.
However, recovery is not always straightforward.
Research has shown that ongoing symptoms can be influenced by several different systems within the body.
These may include:
• The cervical spine (neck)
• The balance and vestibular system
• Vision and eye movement control
• Migraine pathways
• Exercise intolerance
• Sleep disturbance
• Stress and anxiety
This is one of the reasons why simply resting is not always enough.
Understanding which systems are contributing to your symptoms is often the key to recovery.
Our Comprehensive Concussion Assessment
At Melbourne Headache + Concussion Group, we look beyond the diagnosis.
Our goal is to understand why symptoms are occurring and what factors may be slowing recovery.
Depending on your presentation, your assessment may include:
• Detailed symptom review
• Concussion history
• Balance assessment
• Vestibular screening
• Cervical spine assessment
• Vision and eye movement assessment
• Exercise tolerance assessment
• Cognitive screening
• Objective testing using validated assessment tools
This allows us to develop an individualised management plan based on your specific presentation.