Mangiarelli Rehabilitation Physical Therapy Blog
Managing Football-Related Concussions with Physical Therapy
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that occurs when a sudden force causes the brain to crash into the skull, typically from a direct hit to the head or from a whiplash-type motion that can cause cognitive, sensory, and physical symptoms. Concussions are particularly high in the sport of football, resulting from helmet-to-helmet contact or whiplash-type motion from tackling. Physical therapists play a critical role in concussion management, utilizing an evidence-based, personalized, and gradual therapeutic exercise program to help athletes recover safely without exacerbating concussive symptoms.