Concussion assessment and management
Concussion assessment and management
Ensure a safe return to sport and daily life after head injuries
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) caused by a direct blow to the head, face, neck or elsewhere on the body with force transmitted to the head
It results in temporary disruption of normal brain function, often without loss of consciousness.
It results in temporary disruption of normal brain function, often without loss of consciousness.
Common causes of concussion
Concussion symptoms may appear immediately or gradually over the following hours and days. While most resolve within a few weeks, some people experience persistent symptoms, especially if not appropriately managed early.
At our clinic, we provide physiotherapy support for people recovering from concussion — including athletes, workers, and those injured in day-to-day life.
At our clinic, we provide physiotherapy support for people recovering from concussion — including athletes, workers, and those injured in day-to-day life.
How we assess for concussion
A thorough assessment is crucial for guiding safe return to activity. Our concussion-trained physiotherapists assess:
We follow evidence-informed protocols and screen for red flags requiring urgent medical review. We also liaise with GPs, sports physicians, and neuropsychologists as needed.
- Symptom severity and type (e.g. headaches, dizziness, fogginess, fatigue)
- Balance and coordination
- Neck function (whiplash-related issues often coexist with concussion)
- Visual tracking and vestibular (inner ear) function
- Cognitive tolerance and exercise capacity
- Reaction to graded physical and mental activity
We follow evidence-informed protocols and screen for red flags requiring urgent medical review. We also liaise with GPs, sports physicians, and neuropsychologists as needed.
How physiotherapy can help with concussion
Physiotherapy plays a central role in active concussion rehabilitation, moving away from outdated rest-only approaches. Our goal is to help you recover safely and return to school, work, sport or daily life.
Education & Symptom Monitoring
We help you understand your condition, manage expectations, and monitor recovery through structured symptom tracking.
Active rehabilitation is preferred over prolonged rest for post-concussion recovery (Leddy et al., 2016).
Graduated Return-to-Activity Planning
We guide you through structured progression back to school, work, or sport — based on national and international concussion protocols (e.g. Sports Medicine Australia, Berlin Consensus 2017).
Cervical Spine & Headache Management
Neck dysfunction often mimics or contributes to post-concussion symptoms. We assess and treat associated issues like whiplash, cervicogenic headache, or neck stiffness.
Addressing cervical dysfunction has been shown to improve recovery in patients with prolonged concussion symptoms (Schneider et al., 2014).
Vestibular & Visual Rehab
We provide exercises to retrain balance, coordination, gaze stability, and visual tracking if these systems are affected.
Exercise Testing & Rehabilitation
A graded aerobic exercise program can safely improve recovery time in many cases, especially where symptoms persist beyond the typical 10–14 days.
Sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise has been shown to improve outcomes in persistent post-concussion syndrome (Leddy et al., 2019).
Education & Symptom Monitoring
We help you understand your condition, manage expectations, and monitor recovery through structured symptom tracking.
Active rehabilitation is preferred over prolonged rest for post-concussion recovery (Leddy et al., 2016).
Graduated Return-to-Activity Planning
We guide you through structured progression back to school, work, or sport — based on national and international concussion protocols (e.g. Sports Medicine Australia, Berlin Consensus 2017).
Cervical Spine & Headache Management
Neck dysfunction often mimics or contributes to post-concussion symptoms. We assess and treat associated issues like whiplash, cervicogenic headache, or neck stiffness.
Addressing cervical dysfunction has been shown to improve recovery in patients with prolonged concussion symptoms (Schneider et al., 2014).
Vestibular & Visual Rehab
We provide exercises to retrain balance, coordination, gaze stability, and visual tracking if these systems are affected.
Exercise Testing & Rehabilitation
A graded aerobic exercise program can safely improve recovery time in many cases, especially where symptoms persist beyond the typical 10–14 days.
Sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise has been shown to improve outcomes in persistent post-concussion syndrome (Leddy et al., 2019).
Physio for concussion: FAQs
No. Most concussions don’t involve loss of consciousness.
No. Concussions are functional injuries, not structural, so scans often look normal.
Prolonged rest is outdated advice. Early, graded activity (within 24–48 hrs) aids recovery.
Even one increases risk of future concussions and needs proper management.
No. Sleep is safe and important once serious brain injury is ruled out.
Not necessarily. Recovery also involves restoring balance, cognition, and exertion tolerance.
Often, children and adolescents take longer to recover from concussion.
Areas We Serve
We provide physiotherapy services to clients with concussion across the Perth northern suburbs. Some of the most common areas we serve include:
Doubleview, Scarborough, Innaloo, Woodlands, Wembley Downs, Churchlands, Karrinyup, Gwelup, Osborne Park, City Beach, Floreat, and Trigg.
If you're located nearby and looking for expert concussion care, we're just a short drive away.
Additionally, we provide expert and specialist physiotherapy care to many clients who live in Perth and regional Western Australia – your rehabilitation is our priority and many of our clients are prepared to drive further to receive quality care.
Doubleview, Scarborough, Innaloo, Woodlands, Wembley Downs, Churchlands, Karrinyup, Gwelup, Osborne Park, City Beach, Floreat, and Trigg.
If you're located nearby and looking for expert concussion care, we're just a short drive away.
Additionally, we provide expert and specialist physiotherapy care to many clients who live in Perth and regional Western Australia – your rehabilitation is our priority and many of our clients are prepared to drive further to receive quality care.
