Active Rehabilitation of Concussion and Post-concussion Syndrome

John J Leddy; John G Baker; Barry Willer

doi:10.1016/j.pmr.2015.12.003

Active Rehabilitation of Concussion and Post-concussion Syndrome

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2016 May;27(2):437-54. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2015.12.003.

Authors

John J Leddy¹, John G Baker², Barry Willer³

Affiliations

¹ UBMD Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, SUNY Buffalo, 160 Farber Hall, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA. Electronic address: leddy@buffalo.edu.
² UBMD Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine and Nuclear Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
³ Department of Psychiatry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.

PMID: 27154855
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmr.2015.12.003

Abstract

Concussion is a physiological brain injury with physical, cognitive, and emotional sequelae. The macrophysiological insult to the brain affects the autonomic nervous system and its control of cerebral blood flow. Most patients recover within 2 weeks, but some do not. Persistence of symptoms beyond the generally accepted time frame for recovery is called post-concussion syndrome (PCS). PCS is not a single entity; it is a group of disorders that requires specific forms of therapy. Rest has been the mainstay of the treatment for concussion and PCS. This article discusses the rationale for the active treatment of concussion and PCS.

Keywords: Active; Concussion; Physiology; Post-concussion syndrome; Rehabilitation; Treatment.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Bed Rest*
Brain
Brain Concussion / physiopathology
Brain Concussion / rehabilitation*
Humans
Physical Examination
Post-Concussion Syndrome / prevention & control*
Post-Concussion Syndrome / rehabilitation*