Michael Reeves PT, DPT, ATC, CSCS

What is Concussion Rehabilitation? What is a concussion? To answer that question I think it is important to first understand what a concussion is not. A concussion is not a structural injury, meaning that it will not show up using any of our traditional imaging techniques (MRI and CT scan). If you or someone you know initially went to the ER after suffering a head injury and imaging was ordered, it was not to “rule in” a concussion, it was to “rule out” other, more serious pathology such as a brain bleed. So if it is not a structural injury what is it? Rather than impact causing the injury, rapid movement causes shearing forces that cause damage to parts of our neural cells called “axons.” This disruption causes a change in ion concentration inside and outside the cell as well as a spike in glutamate, our body’s main excitatory neurotransmitter. Initially, this change causes many cells to fire in what is called “spreading depolarization” and a lot of energy is releas...

Concussion Initial Evaluation Date: Patient Name: Date of Birth: DOI: Presence of Red Flags (Y/N): MOI: Imaging: Medications: History: (Y/N) Description Previous concussions  Total Number: Dates: History of Migraines (Y/N): Aura: Triggers: Allergies Medications Neurocognitive Baseline Hx Completed (Y/N) Date Completed Location completed Pass / Fail Baseline Neurocognitive Testing Completed (ImPACT) Neurocognitive Testing Completed Post-Injury Subjective: Concussion Symptom Checklist Please report your symptoms on the following scale: 0 = no symptoms; 6 = severe symptoms.   If you are being seen post-injury please fill out based on how you feel at this moment in time. If you are being seen for baseline screening, please fill out based on how you typically feel. Baseline or Post injury: None Mild Moderate Severe Headache 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 “Pr...