5 ways osteopathy can help concussion recovery

Concussions from a head injury can happen at any time to any one. Each concussion is unique and can be managed and treated in a variety of ways that best support the person. Here's a story of a busy mom who suffered a concussion after an injury at work.

Concussions don't discriminate: case study

Meet Natalie. Natalie is a wife, a mother of two young kids under 4 years, and a fitness programmer with her local community centre. One afternoon at work, she was putting away a piece of exercise equipment and stood up quickly, not realizing that there was a metal bar directly over her head.

She hit her head hard - was dazed, felt a headache immediately, and was sent home to rest. She followed up with her doctor who diagnosed her with a concussion. As a result of her concussion, Natalie experienced dizziness, slowed thinking, fatigue, disrupted attention span, decreased memory, interrupted sleep, and lingering head pain. She took sick leave from work. But with her young children, Natalie had difficulty resting and needed help to get back on her feet. She was referred to an occupational therapist (OT) to help with her recovery.

5 ways occupational therapy can help concussion recovery

Concussions often have lingering effects including sleep disturbances, mood, energy, vision issues. An occupational therapist addresses the factors affecting your recovery and provides support in these ways:

1. Functional cognitive screen  An OT determines how a patient is struggling cognitively, physically, emotionally, and functionally. For Natalie, a treatment plan was developed to help improve her function and coping ability.
2. Energy conservation and pacing  This helps concussion sufferers learn how to better gage energy levels and fatigue - and when and how to say “no”.
3. Sleep hygiene  An OT can provide education, coaching, and problem-solving to help improve sleep. Natalie’s OT had her fill out an activity log and sleep diary to look at sleep routines and behaviours, and develop strategies to improve them.
4. Cognitive rehabilitation  An OT will offer education about concussion and recovery; help refer to other treatment providers and recommend cognitive and functional activities that gradually build endurance.
5. Gradual return to work (GRTW) and life  Natalie’s OT worked with her employer and primary care physician to help her successfully return to work. Her OT completed a job site visit to assess work demands. Together with Natalie and her employer, they created a GRTW plan. The OT also helped Natalie to prioritize her goals as a mother, wife, and individual. Slowly, she was able to return to the meaningful occupations in her life.

Suffering from a concussion? An occupational therapist can help!

If you or a loved one has suffered a concussion and are dealing with the lingering effects, occupational therapy can provide much-needed support. By completing a thorough assessment and creating an individualized treatment plan, a Lifemark occupational therapist will work with you to help support your recovery after a concussion. Find a location near you or book an appointment online to get started.