Concussion Treatment for Children: What Parents Need to Know

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) that is caused by violent blows or jolts to the head during falls, contact sports, accidents, etc. Concussions can temporarily disrupt brain function and affect its structure, leading to symptoms such as confusion, headaches, dizziness, etc. Concussions also require urgent medical care, without which they may lead to long-term complications or even death. 

Concussions can affect people of all ages and genders. However, concussions are especially dangerous when they occur in children because their brains are still growing and developing. Therefore, concussions in kids may be harder to diagnose and may require a longer recovery time. Also, inadequate medical attention for concussion in children can damage their developing brains, cause severe behavioural and emotional changes, impact their learning skills and education, and increase their risks of developing a second concussion (second impact syndrome). Therefore, concussions in children require special attention and treatment at Revive Spine and Sport Physiotherapy Clinic. This blog will cover everything you should know about pediatric physiotherapy for concussion treatment for children as a parent. 

How Do Concussions Happen in Children?

Generally, concussions occur due to a violent and direct blow to the head that causes the brain to move back and forth rapidly, bouncing, twisting, and colliding with the insides of the skull, damaging brain cells and causing chemical imbalance in the brain. The following are common causes of concussions in children:

• Falls due to slipping on wet floors or loss of balance while playing and performing other activities
• Playground accidents, such as colliding with other children or equipment, falling off swings, and other structures, etc. 
• Sport injuries during contact sports, such as football, basketball, hockey, wrestling, etc. 
• Whiplash or head injuries can occur during car accidents and crashes, or falls while riding bicycles or scooters. Children who do not wear helmets while riding bicycles/scooters or seatbelts in cars are at an increased risk of developing concussions. 
• Physical abuse or trauma

These and many more are events that may trigger a concussion in kids. Children are usually more vulnerable to concussions compared to adults. This is due to their weaker neck muscles, sensitive developing brains, risk-prone behaviours, and other factors.
 

Symptoms of Concussions in Children

Children may experience physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral signs and symptoms if and when they suffer a concussion. These signs and symptoms may occur immediately after they suffer a concussion or may be delayed. Since children may not fully understand a concussion or its consequences, your duty as a parent is to spot these signs and symptoms and seek medical attention as soon as possible. The following are some of the most common signs and symptoms of concussions in children:

Physical Symptoms

Some physical symptoms of concussion that may appear in children include: 

• Dizziness and balance problems
• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Nausea or vomiting 
• Sensitivity to noise or light
• Chronic fatigue
• Coordination problems, etc.
  
  

Cognitive Symptoms

Concussions may also affect cognition and cognitive processes. The following are some of the most common cognitive symptoms of concussions in children:

• Confusion/mental sluggishness
• Memory problems (Forgetting things easily or having trouble remembering things)
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty processing new information
• Inability to form clear or complete thoughts
  
  

Emotional or Behavioural Symptoms

Concussions can affect the emotions and behaviours of children due to chemical changes in the brain. Some of the most common emotional or behavioural changes you may notice in your kids if they have suffered a concussion include:

• Loss of interest in activities they previously enjoyed
• Easily irritated
• Mood swings
• Anxiety
• Sadness and occasional tearfulness without reason
• Changes in personality
• Fatigue and exhaustion, etc. 

Emotional and behavioural symptoms of concussions may differ in kids, depending on age, individual differences, severity of concussion, and other factors. Concussions may also cause sleep disturbances in children. Kids may find it difficult to sleep at all or sleep more/less than usual. The symptoms of concussions often affect the quality of life of children, hence the need for immediate attention. 

What to do if You Suspect a Concussion in Your Children

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury, however, you do not need to panic if you notice signs of concussion in your child. If you suspect that your kid has suffered a concussion, there are steps you can take to mitigate the effects of the concussion and ensure a quick recovery. The following are steps that you can take immediately when you notice signs of a concussion in your child:

• Stop the sport or activity that your child was participating in at the time of the suspected concussion immediately.
• Carefully observe the child and their symptoms
• Avoid administering medication without a doctor’s prescription
• Look for signs of worsening symptoms, such as vomiting, seizures, severe headache, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, trouble breathing, standing, or walking, blood or fluid coming out of the nose or ears, etc. 
• Seek immediate medical attention.
  
  

How is Concussion Diagnosed in Children?

Before beginning treatment, your healthcare provider must reach a diagnosis to confirm that your child has indeed suffered a concussion. Since there is no way to see a concussion physically, your healthcare provider may have to rely on signs of injury to brain function to diagnose a concussion. The following are some of the steps your healthcare provider may take to diagnose a concussion in your child:

• Comprehensive review of the symptoms
• Evaluation of medical history
• Physical examination
• Cognitive tests and neurological exams
• Balance, reflex, and coordination tests
• Diagnostic imaging tests (if necessary).

Your healthcare provider will be able to confirm if your child has suffered a concussion through the results of these tests and examinations. After a concussion diagnosis is confirmed, your healthcare provider may recommend adequate rest and pediatric physiotherapy for concussion management for your child.

All You Need to Know About Concussion Treatment

Physiotherapy is an integral part of concussion treatment because a concussion is a neurological condition that may cause pain and limit physical function and mobility. 

Pediatric physiotherapy is a branch of physiotherapy that focuses on children from birth to the age of 18 in Edmonton, AB. If your child has suffered a concussion, they may benefit from pediatric physiotherapy in Edmonton. The following are the goals of pediatric physiotherapy for concussion treatment:

• Management of symptoms: Concussion has severe symptoms that can limit physical function and restrict mobility. Some of these symptoms include pain, inflammation, dizziness, vertigo, headaches, vision problems, etc. However, pediatric physiotherapy can help treat and manage these symptoms to end discomfort and restore your child’s health. 
  
  
• Cognitive rehabilitation: A concussion may impair your child’s cognition, leading to cognitive dysfunction. However, pediatric physiotherapy can help to improve or restore cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, and other executive functions that may have been impaired after the concussion. 
  
  
• Improvement of physical function: Concussions trigger several physical symptoms that may limit or restrict physical function. However, your child can undergo several physiotherapy techniques that can improve their physical function, strength, endurance, range of motion, balance, and coordination that may have been limited by a concussion, with pediatric physiotherapy.
  
  
• Gradual return to activity: Adequate rest is essential for recovery from concussions. Pediatric physiotherapy can help guide a child’s return to their normal activities after recovering from a concussion. This measure helps to avoid triggering concussion symptoms again and prevent re-injury.
  
  
• Management of post-concussion syndrome: Post-concussion syndrome refers to a set of concussion symptoms that persist beyond their expected recovery period. You may experience post-concussion syndrome after recovering from a concussion. However, pediatric physiotherapy can help you deal with these symptoms.

Some of the things you may expect if your child is undergoing a pediatric concussion treatment in Edmonton include:

• Initial assessment and evaluation
• Therapeutic exercises
• Manual therapy
• Vestibular rehabilitation
• Oculomotor exercises
• Patient education and support, etc.
  
  

Conclusion

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that may affect children and reduce their overall quality of life. Concussions can damage a child’s brain, affect their cognition, limit physical function and mobility, and cause severe behavioural and emotional changes. However, pediatric physiotherapy can help children recover from concussions safely and completely. Therefore, if you suspect that your child has suffered a concussion, you should consider seeking pediatric physiotherapy for concussion treatment in Edmonton at Revive Spine and Sport Physiotherapy Clinic.