Physical Therapy and Concussion Relief in Jacksonville FL
People typically associate concussions with sports injuries. But did you know concussions can also result after car accidents, slips, falls, bumps, and other traumatic brain injuries? In addition, the incidences of concussions are on the rise. Each year, more than 3 million cases of concussion are diagnosed in the United States alone.
If you or someone you know has or is recovering from a concussion, physical therapy can help. At Advanced Medical Centers, with two convenient office locations in Jacksonville, Florida, our skilled team of compassionate care providers offers comprehensive treatment to help heal your brain and alleviate the neck pain, headaches, and other symptoms you may experience after an injury resulting in a concussion.
Read on to learn how physical therapy can help you recover from a concussion in Jacksonville FL!
Understanding Concussions in Jacksonville FL
A concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), can occur when something causes the head or the body to be violently shaken, causing the brain to move back and forth inside the skull. This injury stretches, tears, or shears the neurons in your brain, changing normal brain functions and causing metabolic damage.
Most people fully recover after a concussion, but even mild concussions can have serious and long-term health effects. As such, it's important to take concussions seriously.
Signs and symptoms of concussion include:
- Appearing dazed or seeing stars
- Confusion or memory problems
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Mood changes
- Nausea
- Ringing in the ears
- Sleep disturbances
- Slurred speech
- Temporary loss of consciousness
Most symptoms can be detected immediately after the injury. However, some might not be recognized until much later. Sometimes, days or even weeks can pass before symptoms become apparent. Experts call these delayed symptoms of post-concussion syndrome.
Post-Concussion Syndrome
Post-concussion syndrome, or PCS, is diagnosed when concussion-related symptoms last for weeks or months after a concussion. People who have previously experienced three or more concussions, females and people under 18 are at higher risk of developing PCS.
Symptoms of PCS involve those associated with concussion. With PCS you may also notice a change in mood or personality, sensitivity to light and/or noise, difficulty sleeping, neck, and head pain, lack of energy, depression or anxiety, and dizziness.
How Can Physical Therapy Help?
Scientists believe that after a concussion, your brain has trouble interpreting information from the vestibular system in the inner ear. This system gives you your sense of balance and information about body position and motion.
When this system isn't working, you can continue to experience the symptoms associated with a concussion. In addition, blood flow to the brain can decrease with PCS, slowing recovery time.
Trained physical therapists, like the team at Advanced Medical Centers, work with you using specifically designed therapy programs to improve vestibular function. We can also create exercise programs to increase blood flow to the brain. Together, these therapies promote brain healing and a full recovery.
If you have PCS, you may also have persistent headaches and neck pain as a result of the injury that caused your concussion. Physical therapy can help heal the muscles in the neck that are overstretched, stressed, or injured after a concussion.
Where Can I Get Help?
Recovering from concussion and PCS is possible with the right care. If you or someone you know has a concussion or is showing signs of PCS, contact our Jacksonville offices for an examination and diagnosis.
At Advanced Medical Centers, you receive comprehensive treatment for concussion as well as a neurology evaluation on-site if needed.
Concussions are serious. Don't delay treatment! Contact Advanced Medical Centers to schedule an appointment today!
