Empower PT. Improving Health & Fitness

CONCUSS I ON MANAGEMENT: JANUARY IS TBI AWARENESS MONTH!

How can I spot a possible concussion? Concussions are a fairly common injury, but many people are unaware of exactly what happens when one gets a concussion. This injury isaresultofan impact, inwhichthebrain collides with the inside of the skull. This can be caused by a harsh blow to the head or any traumatic jolttothebody.Concussionscanalso be caused if a violent back-and-forth motion (such as whiplash) of the head takes place. When your head tosses in different directions rapidly (such as from a car crash or harsh football tackle), your brain gets tossed along inside it, bouncing off the bony enclosure of yourskull.Concussionscanresult inanumber of unfortunate symptoms, such as: · Painful and chronic headaches/migraines · Sensitivity to light and sound

Ifyouareexperiencinganyof thesesymptoms, you may have a concussion. What is the normal recovery time for a concussion? The normal recovery time from a concussion varies from person to person and past concussion recovery time does not predict future recovery time. The patient’s signs/ symptoms and course of recovery depend upon the location of the mild brain injury and the severity of their injury. However, studies have shown that 80% of athletes recover from their concussion within three weeks, but 20% of concussed patients may take much longer to recover. What are some risk factors for a delayed or a prolonged recovery? Noteffectivelytreatingaconcussionrightaway can leadtosomeserioushealthrisks. Insevere cases, concussions can result in brain bleeds that require emergency medical treatment. In cases such as this, your condition will be treated at the hospital ASAP. Delayed treatment can also lead to conditions such as post-concussion syndrome. Post- concussion syndrome is a serious condition that can last for several months, even without Use an ergonomic shovel It will help if you can minimize the degree you need to bend forward to shovel, so consider using a shovel with a curved handle, which will allow you to stay in a more upright stance. An adjustable length shovel can also let you shorten the handle length, so you are not straining to lift heavy snow that’s too far away from your body. Both of these factors will help take stress off your lower back. Finally, the lighter the shovel (e.g. plastic) the less weight you will need to hoist. Pay careful attention to how you lift the snow Bend at your hips and with your knees, and lift

posing obvious symptoms. People who have post-concussion syndrome may experience bouts of dizziness, vertigo, or persistent headaches, that will not go away without treatment. If you believe you may have a concussion, the best solution is to seek the help of a medical professional right away to avoid the risk of worsening the concussion. With the help of physicaltherapy,youcanreceivethenecessary treatment for your specific needs. How can Physical Therapy help a patient recover from a sports concussion? Physical therapists play an important role on a concussion management team. Physical Therapist will evaluate and treat many aspects of concussion that may include dizziness that may arise from a neck issue (cervicogenic dizziness), balance deficits, neck pain, headaches that are referred from the neck, vertigo from an inner ear condition (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), exercises for vision issues (ocular motor exercises), issues with blood pressure & heart rate with exercise (autonomic dysregulation), and help to progress patients through a graded return to play protocol. with your leg muscles, not your back. Do not bend your back forward or twist your back at any point. Only lift an amount of snow that you can comfortably handle. Use a snow blower instead of a shovel. When usedcorrectly,asnowblowercantakemuchof the stress of snow removal off your back. Use the power of your legs to propel the machine forward, keeping your back straight (don’t hunch forward) and your knees slightly bent. Ifyouwould liketo learnmoreonhowtoprevent yourself froma potential injury while handling tasks in the winter, contact us today. Amedical expert will be happy to assist you!

· Ringing in the ears · Visual abnormalities · Slurring of speech · Memory loss and confusion · Nausea and vomiting · Inability to focus · Dizziness · Fatigue

REVIEW THESE TIPS BEFORE CLEARING YOUR DRIVEWAY THIS WINTER! PREVENT BACK PAIN WHEN SHOVELING

Warm up your muscles Cold muscles are more susceptible to injury, so warm up the large muscles in your lower back before heading out to shovel the snow. Forexample,startbyplacingahotwaterbottle or heating pad on your lower back for 10 - 20 minutes, followed with some light aerobic exercises to get your blood moving. Then do some gentle stretching. Some people may find that putting a ThermaCare Heat Wrap, or other brand of adhesive heat wrap, on their lower back not only keeps their back muscles warmed up but also helps remind them to pay attention to ergonomics and form.

Source: https://www.spine-health.com/blog/4-tips-protect-your-back-when-shoveling

Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator