Heads Up…
Caring for a
Concussion
Has Changed Jason Kavountzis, MPT, OCS
Your son slams his head on the hard
turf while playing soccer. During a
tight-scoring basketball game, your
daughter gets an elbow to the temple,
knocking her to the court.
“The severity of a concussion can
range from mild, meaning there’s a
brief change in mental status or consciousness,
to severe, which can lead
to an extended period of unconsciousness
and memory loss,” explains
Jason Kavountzis, MPT, OCS,
Director of Rehabilitation Services.
Because no two concussions are
alike, it’s important, he says, that
treatment be individualized to get
the patient back on track, whether
the goal is to Return to Learn, Return
to Sport, or simply Return to Everyday
Life.
OUR PROGRAM
During a post-injury evaluation, a
certified physical therapist will develop
a plan to treat the concussion
as well as the symptoms and challenges
that come with it. For example,
they might recommend the
patient ride a stationary bike because
it can provide cardiovascular exercise
without risking head movements that
may exacerbate the concussion.
“There are a number of exercises of
the eyes and the head, called vestibular
habituation movements, that can
help,” says Kavountzis. The goal, he
says, is to reduce the dizziness
through repeated exposure to specific
movements or visual stimuli that
actually provoke it.
Some patients have the sensation
that the room is spinning, or vertigo.
It’s most likely that the tiny crystals inside
Director of Rehabilitation Services
and the Concussion Program
201-833-3085
holyname.org
the ear have come loose from
their normal location. When this happens,
physical therapists may need to
manipulate the position of the patient’s
body, typically from side to
side, to try and get the crystals back
in place.
“Most people who sustain a concussion
will be back to normal in a
week or two,” says Kavountzis. “But
others can have long-term problems,
so the sooner someone is diagnosed,
the better the chances for a
quick recovery.”
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