Can You Get a Concussion Without Hitting Your Head?

Concussive injuries may occur without obvious external signs of injury to the head and without experiencing decapitating injuries. Symptoms of a concussion can include confusion, balance problems, and nausea, among others, but recognizing these signs is only part of being well-informed. Knowing when to take it easy after being struck in the head and when to seek urgent care can better ensure your continued brain health.

This article explores when to seek medical help for concussions and how physiotherapy in Edmonton can help.

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that often results from direct, forceful contact to the skull. A person can sustain this type of injury without the head ever touching an object. A sudden, violent shake to the head and upper body can cause the same rapid forces inside the skull, similar to when a direct blow to the head is received. 

Can You Get a Concussion Without Hitting Your Head?

It is absolutely feasible to obtain a concussion without direct head trauma. Anytime your body is subjected to enough force to make the brain accelerate and decelerate within the skull, it is a potential concussion event. These kinds of applied forces typically use the head and neck in a way that is jarring—that causes jerking motions. 

The most common scenario is motor vehicle accidents when the head is whipped forward and back. But sports figures also experience these kinds of events, sometimes with neck braces, as in football players. The impacts can be from below or from above, or they can be direct hits to the head, but they can also be induced by a sudden jolt of the body with no hit to the head at all.

Symptoms of a Concussion

It's quite typical for a person to have a headache that just won't go away after sustaining a concussion. If you're feeling unsteady or lightheaded, that could mean the part of your brain that controls balance was injured. Brain fog, memory lapses, or severe confusion can happen after a concussion (usually in the first week). Also, light and sound sensitivity, irritability, anxiety, or depression can be taken as signs of a concussion.

When Should You Seek Medical Attention?

Seek immediate medical attention if you think you've sustained a concussion, particularly without a direct hit to the head. Even mild concussions can have dangerous long-term effects if they go unexamined. Urgent care isn't just for emergencies. You should see a doctor if you're experiencing any of these symptoms: 

• Loss of consciousness, even if momentary 
• Worsening headaches
• Throwing up or feeling like you're about to
• Disorientation 
• Severe confusion
• Vision problems

How Can Physiotherapy Help with Concussion Recovery?

Once you've received an evaluation and treatment for a concussion, physiotherapy can play a significant role in your recovery. This treatment involves the use of several techniques, such as;

Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)

It is not uncommon for a person recovering from a concussion to experience dizziness or vertigo; in fact, these symptoms are frequently reported. When such symptoms occur, they are typically the result of some disruption to the vestibular system, which is located in the inner ear and consists of several fluid-filled structures. These structures can be thought of as sensors that detect motion and changes in head position. 

With that in mind, vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a specialized way of retraining the brain to process the signals that come from the vestibular system. When quite basic activities like turning your head, moving your body from side to side, or riding in a car become hard to accomplish without feeling dizzy, VRT is the go-to therapy to help you regain your balance and make these activities easier to perform again.

Balance Training

Targeted exercise is used to help people regain coordination after a concussion. Because balance may be affected, the simplest exercises may be those that help with balance. For instance, your physiotherapist might have you do "balance on one leg" exercises. These balance exercisesd are usuallly done in a progression and with the therapist making sure you are safe.

Stretching and Strengthening Exercises

Stretching and strengetherning exercises can help relieve tension in the neck muscles, improve posture, and restore a normal range of motion. This treatment is especially beneficial if you have experienced concussuon results from whiplash-like injuries. Your therapist may prescribe it if you are experiencing cervicogenic headaches (headaches that stem from neck issues) and neck stiffness. 

Gradual Return to Activity

If you have suffered a concussion, you must not allow yourself to be physically inactive for too long. On the other hand, you must not return to your normal activities—especially athletic ones—too quickly either. Either scenario can endanger your health by making concussion symptoms last longer than they should. Your licensed physiotherapist can help strike the right balance for you between these two dangerous extremes. 

Your physiotherapist will begin with a system of light and simple aerobic exercises. If you walk, for instance, your therapist will probably have you do it in a straight line without any changes in direction.

Manual Therapy

Hands-on treatment, like manual therapy, can help address the symptoms of a concussion. The treatment involves techniques like soft tissue manipulation, joint mobilization, and massages. Your therapist will apply an appropriate technique to ease stiffness and muscle tension and help you recover faster. 

Conclusion.

Most people associate getting knocked out with being the most serious type of concussion. However, it is important to note that any major impact on your body can also cause a concussion. The symptoms are the same no matter how you sustained the injury. That’s why it’s vital to get checked out even if you don’t think you hit your head hard enough to have caused a concussion or if you experienced some significant force to your body that didn’t involve your head at all. Seeking prompt physiotherapy for concussion in Edmonton may make all the difference between a chronic condition and a mild, treatable one.