Concussion Physiotherapy in Mount Maunganui & Tauranga

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) that can occur following a blow or jolt to the head or body. You don't have to lose consciousness to have a concussion, and symptoms can vary considerably from person to person.

At Mountside Physiotherapy + Wellness in Mount Maunganui, our physiotherapists can assess concussion-related symptoms and provide individualised rehabilitation to help you safely return to work, study, exercise and sport.

What is a concussion?

A concussion occurs when a force causes the brain to move rapidly within the skull, temporarily affecting how the brain functions.

A concussion can happen during sport, exercise, a fall, a motor vehicle accident or any other activity involving a significant blow or jolt to the head or body.

Importantly, loss of consciousness is not required for a concussion to occur.

What are the symptoms of concussion?

Concussion symptoms can appear immediately or develop over the hours following an injury. Common concussion symptoms include:

• Headache or pressure in the head
• Dizziness or feeling off balance
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Blurred or altered vision
• Feeling foggy, slowed down or “not quite right”
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty remembering
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Irritability or changes in mood
• Sleep disturbance

Symptoms can be different for everyone, which is why an individual concussion assessment is important.

If your symptoms are worsening or you develop new symptoms, seek medical attention promptly.

What should you do if you think you have a concussion?

If you suspect you or someone else has sustained a concussion, follow the Recognise, Remove and Refer approach:

Recognise: Be aware of the signs and symptoms of concussion.

Remove: Stop the activity immediately. Anyone with a suspected concussion should be removed from sport or other activities where another injury could occur.

Refer: Arrange an assessment with a healthcare professional experienced in concussion management.

Avoid returning to sport, exercise or activities that could put you at risk of another head injury until you have been appropriately assessed.

When is a concussion an emergency?

Most concussions can be managed with appropriate assessment and rehabilitation. However, some symptoms may indicate a more serious brain injury.

Seek urgent medical attention if there is:

• Loss of consciousness or responsiveness
• A seizure or convulsion
• Repeated vomiting
• Increasing confusion or unusual behaviour
• Weakness or difficulty moving
• A severe or rapidly worsening headache
• Increasing difficulty staying awake or being woken
• A significant deterioration in symptoms

Concussion treatment: what has changed?

Concussion management has changed significantly over the past few years.

Complete physical and cognitive rest in a dark room used to be common advice. We now know that prolonged inactivity is generally not the best approach.

Current concussion management involves a short period of relative rest followed by a gradual return to normal activities as symptoms allow. ACC's current New Zealand guidelines recommend relative rest for the first 24–48 hours, followed by a graduated return to activity guided by symptoms and an appropriately trained healthcare professional.

This may include:

• Gradually returning to normal daily activities
• Progressively increasing physical activity
• Returning to work or study
• Individualised exercise rehabilitation
• A gradual return to sport

The goal isn't to do nothing. It's to find the right level of activity to support recovery without significantly aggravating symptoms.

How can physiotherapy help with concussion?

Physiotherapy can play an important role in concussion rehabilitation.

At Mountside, we assess your symptoms and how they are affecting your everyday life, exercise, work or sport. We then develop an individualised rehabilitation programme based on your symptoms, goals and stage of recovery.

Concussion physiotherapy may include:

Vestibular rehabilitation

Specific exercises can help with dizziness, balance problems and difficulties with movement or visual tasks.

Balance and coordination rehabilitation

We can assess and retrain balance and coordination where these have been affected following concussion.

Neck assessment and treatment

Neck pain, stiffness or associated headaches can sometimes contribute to ongoing symptoms following a head or body injury. Your physiotherapist can assess whether your neck is contributing to your symptoms and provide appropriate treatment.

Exercise rehabilitation

Exercise can be gradually reintroduced as part of concussion recovery. We can help determine the appropriate level and intensity of exercise and progress this as your symptoms improve.

Return to work, study and sport

We can help guide your return to normal activities, including work, school, exercise and sport, while monitoring your symptoms throughout the process.

Every concussion is different, so concussion rehabilitation should be tailored to the individual.

How long does concussion recovery take?

Recovery from concussion varies from person to person.

Many people recover within a few weeks, while others experience symptoms for longer and require additional assessment and rehabilitation.

Factors such as previous concussions, the type and severity of symptoms, sleep, stress, neck symptoms and your activity demands can all influence recovery.

Early assessment and appropriate concussion management can help you understand your symptoms and provide a clear plan for recovery.

Returning to sport after concussion

Returning to sport too soon can increase the risk of another concussion and may prolong recovery.

In New Zealand community sport, the current national guidelines recommend a graduated return-to-sport programme, with at least 24 hours between stages. Full competition should not occur until the athlete has completed the required stages, is symptom-free during sport-specific training and is at least 21 days post-injury. Clearance from a healthcare professional experienced in concussion management is strongly recommended.

Our physiotherapists can help guide your return to exercise and sport and work alongside your GP, sports physician, coach, school or sporting organisation where required.

When should you see a physiotherapist for concussion?

If you've had a knock or jolt to the head or body and are experiencing symptoms such as headache, dizziness, balance problems, fatigue, feeling foggy or difficulty concentrating, it's worth getting assessed.

You don't need to wait for symptoms to become severe before seeking help.

At Mountside Physiotherapy + Wellness in Mount Maunganui, our physiotherapists provide evidence-based concussion assessment and rehabilitation for people wanting to safely return to everyday life, exercise, work, study and sport.

If you're recovering from a concussion, you don't have to figure it out on your own. We'll help you understand what's happening, know what to do next and build your activity back safely.

Book a concussion physiotherapy assessment at Mountside today.