Recently Had A Head Injury? Don’t Wait To Get It Checked Out

Don’t Let A Head Injury Go Unchecked: Concussions And Impact Testing

Concussions are common in high-impact sports (remember the ongoing NFL concussion settlement?), but they can also happen in everyday life from accidents. From slipping and falling on ice to accident-prone children, concussions can happen anywhere at any time.

Sometimes, concussions can go unnoticed, leading to more serious problems. And, although many people are checked for concussions after traumatic accidents like car crashes, even banging your head could result in a concussion that might go undiagnosed if it’s not checked out.

But how do you know you have one? And when should you go in to get it check out? Here's what you should look out for after a sustaining a head injury and when you should seek medical attention.

Common symptoms may go unnoticed after a head injury.

Short of being involved in a serious traumatic accident like a car crash, many people don’t pay attention to the symptoms of a concussion. In fact, some symptoms are so common that they may go unnoticed. However, if you’ve recently injured your head, paying attention to these signs may indicate a concussion or, at the very least, be concern enough to seek medical attention:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Vision problems or seeing stars
• Fatigue
• Trouble concentrating or remembering simple things
• Irritability
• Trouble sleeping

Other more serious, and more noticeable symptoms include loss of consciousness immediately following the traumatic event, ringing in the ears, nausea or vomiting, trouble speaking, or sensitivity to light. Whether the symptoms seem common, like headaches or fatigue, or are more serious, you should always head in to a clinic to be checked for a concussion. Getting medical attention for a head injury right away means recovering faster and returning to your normal daily activities.

Physical therapy will help quicken recovery after a concussion.

You might not know it, but physical therapy is one of the most effective ways of recovering from a concussion. Not only do physical therapists look at the whole picture, but an exercise-based program will help you recover quickly so that you can get back to living your life as normal.

Nancy, a patient at OSR Physical Therapy, knows what it’s like to go through rehabilitation for a concussion. She’s currently recovering from a head injury that left her with dizziness, balance problems, and vision problems – classic results of a concussion.

“After I couldn’t go back to work because of head problems, I started getting frustrated,” says Nancy. “I was recommended to seek physical therapy and up until that point, I didn’t even know that physical therapy could treat concussions.”

Nancy, a concussion patient at OSR Physical Therapy

However, after just a couple of sessions, Nancy started to see improvement; her dizziness and lightheadedness was lessening after each session. With such exercises as eye strengthening and focusing, Nancy saw great improvement and is finally able to return to work.

Never let a head injury go unchecked.

Many people like Nancy have no idea that physical therapy could help in recovering from a concussion. Living with a concussion means making daily life difficult and could even mean the inability to work. However, if you’ve had a head injury and have some of the same symptoms, physical therapy can help you return quickly to your normal standard of living. Physical therapists at OSR who specialize in concussions and head injuries will evaluate you for free and even begin sessions with you that same day so that you can recover quickly from your head injury.