Concussion Assessment & Rehabilitation
Initial Steps to Recovery
A concussion can feel frightening, especially when you’re not sure what’s normal and what’s not. Whether you’ve just taken a knock on the footy field or been in a car accident, the steps you take in the first 48 hours matter.
You may be experiencing headaches, dizziness, fatigue, brain fog or difficulty concentrating and wondering whether what you’re feeling is normal.
The good news is that most people recover well following a concussion.
Current guidelines recommend a short period of relative rest during the first 24 to 48 hours, followed by a gradual return to normal daily activities as symptoms allow.
This means avoiding activities that significantly worsen symptoms, while continuing with light physical and cognitive activity where appropriate.
It is also important to avoid situations where there is a risk of sustaining another head injury.
Every concussion is different. While many people recover within a few weeks, some individuals may benefit from further assessment and guidance to support their recovery.
Below, you’ll find practical advice on common concussion symptoms and strategies that may help during the recovery process.
What to Avoid + Expect
Why Choose Melbourne Headache + Concussion Group?
Concussion recovery isn’t a waiting game — it’s a process. And no two recoveries look the same.
Being told to “rest and see how you go” can leave you feeling lost, especially when symptoms persist or you’re unsure what’s normal. At Melbourne Headache + Concussion Group, we take a different approach. Rather than managing a diagnosis, we assess the systems commonly affected by concussion — and build a plan around what we find. Our goal is simple: understand what’s driving your symptoms, then guide you through recovery with clarity and confidence.
How We Work
01 — Assess See the full picture
Concussion can affect multiple systems in the body — the cervical spine, vestibular system, visual system, and more. Our clinicians conduct a comprehensive assessment of your symptoms, history and the systems most commonly involved in concussion. We don’t assume — we look.
02 — Identify Find what’s contributing
Persistent concussion symptoms rarely have a single cause. We work to identify the specific factors that may be slowing your recovery — whether that’s cervical involvement, vestibular dysfunction, visual difficulties, exercise intolerance, migraine pathways, or disrupted sleep. Understanding the ‘why’ is what makes treatment meaningful.
03 — Plan Build your roadmap
Once we understand what’s contributing to your symptoms, we develop an individualised management plan tailored to your life — your work, your sport, your recovery goals. No templates. No generic advice. A structured plan that reflects where you are and where you need to get to.
04 — Guide Support every step back
Recovery doesn’t end when symptoms ease — it ends when you’re confidently back to everything that matters to you. We support your return to work, school, exercise and sport with clear milestones, objective reassessment where appropriate, and guidance you can trust at every stage.
Every concussion is different. Every recovery plan should be too.
Why This Matters
Many people with concussion are under-assessed and under-supported — particularly those whose symptoms persist beyond the first few weeks. Research increasingly shows that early, targeted intervention across the systems affected by concussion leads to better outcomes than rest alone.
Our approach is grounded in current evidence and guided by clinicians who specialise in this space. We won’t promise a specific outcome — but we will make sure you’re properly assessed, properly supported, and never left guessing about what comes next.
When can I return to sport?
When it is safe for an athlete to return to play contact or collision sports after symptoms of concussion clear depends on many factors, including the athlete’s age, baseline test data, time symptoms take to clear and severity, and concussion history.