Physiotherapy
Concussion Management for Patients
VIDEO - Concussions 101, a Primer for Kids and Parents - CLICK HERE TO WATCH
Concussion should be suspected in the presence of any one or more of the following: symptoms (such as headache), physical signs (such as unsteadiness), impaired brain function (such as confusion) or abnormal behaviour.
1. Symptoms
Presence of any of the following signs and symptoms may suggest a concussion.
| Amnesia | Drowsiness | Nausea or vomiting |
| Balance problems | Fatigue or low energy | Neck pain |
| Blurred vision | Feeling like “in a fog“ | Nervous or anxious |
| Confusion | Feeling slowed down | Pressure in head |
| Difficulty concentrating | Headache | Sadness |
| Difficulty remembering | Irritability | Seizure or convulsion |
| Dizziness | Loss of consciousness | Sensitivity to light |
| “Don’t feel right” | More emotional | Sensitivity to noise |
2. Memory function
Failure to answer all questions correctly may suggest a concussion.
“What venue are we at today?”
“Which half is it now?”
“Who scored last in this game?”
“What team did you play last week/game?”
“Did your team win the last game?”
3. Balance testing
Vocal instructions for tandem stance. Say:
“Stand heel-to-toe with your non-dominant foot in back. Your weight should be evenly distributed across both feet. You should try to maintain stability for 20 seconds with your hands on your hips and your eyes closed. I will be counting the number of times you move out of this position. If you stumble out of this position, open your eyes and return to the start position and continue balancing. I will start timing when you are set and have closed your eyes.”
Observe the athlete for 20 seconds. If they make more than 5 errors (such as lift their hands off their hips; open their eyes; lift their forefoot or heel; step, stumble, or fall; or remain out of the start position for more than 5 seconds) this may suggest a concussion. Any athlete with a suspected concussion should be IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM PLAY, urgently assessed medically, should not be left alone and should not drive a motor vehicle.
For more information, please contact us at hpc@uoguelph.ca.
