How long can concussion physical therapy take?

Concussions are typically a product of either hitting your head on something or violent head movement. They’re often associated with high-impact sports or car accidents. Yet they can also be caused by falling and hitting your head. The fact that there are so many ways to develop a concussion may be one reason that 2.8 million people suffer this and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) annually. 

Physical therapy can be an important part of your concussion recovery process. One of the goals your physical therapist will shoot for is to try to help you recover as rapidly as possible. However, they may also warn you that concussions may take some time to recover from even if you are doing physical therapy. 

How long might you be in concussion physical therapy?

Concussions can vary widely in severity. That’s why medical professionals typically assign them a grade ranging from 1 to 4. As the severity increases, so does the expected recovery time. Physical therapists can work with you throughout your entire recovery period, no matter how brief or extended it may be. Here is a closer look at the four concussion severity grades and their estimated recovery times: 

• Grade 1 — This is a very mild concussion. Initially, you may also feel dazed for a minute or two. It may also cause a headache and difficulty concentrating, but you may be able to return to normal activities in a limited capacity in a day or two. 

• Grade 2 — All the Grade 1 symptoms carry over into Grade 2. You will likely feel dazed for longer after the concussion occurs. You may also experience additional symptoms like dizziness, confusion, memory loss, ringing in the ears and irritability. Grade 2 concussions typically require several days of rest before you can begin returning to your normal activities. 

• Grade 3 — A Grade 3 concussion sufferer tends to experience all the symptoms of a Grade 2 concussion. However, they may also lose consciousness when the concussion happens. Typically, this loss of consciousness will last for less than a minute. 

• Grade 4 — Grade 4 concussion sufferers also tend to develop Grade 2 symptoms. They also experience a loss of consciousness. The difference is that they are unconscious for over a minute. Both Grade 3 and Grade 4 concussions typically take at least a few weeks to recover from. 

What can be included in your concussion physical therapy plan?

There are several ways that physical therapists will seek to help you during concussion physical therapy. They will seek to help you manage and reduce the symptoms you’re experiencing. They will also work to help you get back to doing your normal daily tasks as fast as possible. Some of the techniques your physical therapist may use to reach these goals are: 

• Manual therapy. 
• Therapeutic exercises. 
• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM). 
• Aquatic therapy. 
• Virtual physical therapy sessions. 

Find helpful concussion physical therapy at a Peak Performance clinic

Suffering from a concussion? Our Peak Performance Sports & Physical Therapy team is ready, willing and able to help you treat this TBI. We can do a free screening on you to determine how severe your concussion is. Then, our physical therapists can construct a treatment plan for you, and your plan will be personalized to fit your needs and recovery goals. 

Contact us today for more information about how we can assist with your concussion or to schedule your initial appointment to start treating your head injury.