Concussion Management
A concussion is a serious head injury. At Beverly Hospital and Addison Gilbert Hospital, we have introduced a Concussion Management Program with a multidisciplinary team who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of concussions.
ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) is the most widely used and most scientifically validated computerized concussion evaluation system. If you suspect a concussion has occurred, please see your primary care physician or contact one of our Concussion Management Program physicians who are ImPACT trained and certified to manage concussion symptoms.
Beverly Hospital’s Concussion Management Program
Especially focused on young athletes, ImPACT provides trained clinicians with assessment tools and services that have been medically accepted as state-of-the-art best practices – as part of determining a safe return to activities.
The Beverly Hospital concussion program has five distinct parts:
- Community education
- Baseline impact testing (to assess brain function and balance and to serve as a baseline should a concussion occur)
- Medical management
- Physical therapy
- Return-to-play protocol
When in doubt, get checked out. For more information, call 978.816.2525.
Symptoms of a Concussion
A concussion is a brain injury that results in a temporary disruption of normal brain function. When the brain is violently rocked back and forth or twisted inside the skull as a result of a blow to the head or body, a concussion has occurred.
Concussion symptoms include:
- Headache
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Feeling dazed, foggy or stunned
- Fatigue
- Memory problems
- Slurred speech
- Trouble concentrating
- Irritability or emotional changes
- Nausea
- Vision problems
It is important to know that concussions are not limited to the athletic population and can occur from a motor vehicle accident, trauma or fall. No two concussions are alike, and it is important to seek the appropriate medical care following a concussion to discuss your treatment options.
Treating Concussion with Physical Therapy
If a concussion is confirmed, physical therapy can play a significant role in treating symptoms of concussion such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, impairments related to cervical spine, cognition, balance, vision, and sensory integration.
Your physical therapist will work with you and your physician to treat your symptoms and manage triggers, and can make recommendations for a timeline for return to sport, work or recreational activities. Your physical therapist will also provide you with the appropriate exercises to address your individual symptoms.
For more information on how physical therapy can help treat a concussion, please contact Beverly Hospital’s Center for Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine at 978.922.8943.
