Post-Concussion Rehab Available in our North Kingstown Office!
Have you suffered from a concussion or know someone that has? A concussion occurs when the brain is injured with a blow to the head or in a whiplash injury. It can occur most often with sports, motor vehicle accidents, and falls. Concussions are often treated with proper rest but research has shown that physical therapy can also be a proper tool for treating those with concussions.
Often times recovery from a concussion can occur in a few days to weeks with proper rest. Occasionally concussion-related symptoms last beyond a normal time frame and a person is diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. In post-concussion syndrome, symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, fogginess, difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much, blurred vision, light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, depression, anxiety, changes in emotion, difficulty with memory, difficulty with concentration, and difficulty with balance, can last for months after the concussion occurs. Those that have suffered previous concussion are at greater risk of post-concussion syndrome.
Physical therapy can help those with post-concussion syndrome recover. People with concussions often have decreased balance and visual problems such as double vision, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and difficulty with focusing. During a concussion the brain has difficulty processing input from the vestibular system. The vestibular system is your inner ear and tells the brain where you are in space. When this is disrupted it leads to balance issues, dizziness, nausea and visual problems. A physical therapist that is specifically trained in treating patients with a concussion or post-concussion syndrome can help the vestibular system to recover, decreasing symptoms. Fortunately, Julie Williams DPT from our North Kingstown office, has extensive training and practice in treating patients with concussions and post-concussion syndrome.
Julie can also help an athlete with returning to their sport. Specific graded exercise programs, developed by a physical therapist, can help safely increase tolerance to exercise and a safe return to sport. Also, she can administer testing to determine if you are ready to safely return to your sport.
If you have suffered from a concussion in sports or in a motor vehicle accident and have symptoms that have lasted longer than a few weeks, or are looking to return to exercise or sport after concussion, then please call our North Kingstown office to make an appointment with Julie Williams DPT, to help you on your road to recovery.
