concussion Treatment in Adelaide

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a direct or indirect force to the head, face, neck or body. Despite the word "mild," it is a genuine brain injury that deserves proper assessment and management. Returning to sport, work or study too soon significantly increases the risk of prolonged symptoms and repeat injury.

The good news is that with the right assessment and a structured rehabilitation programme, most people recover fully. Physiotherapy plays a central role — addressing the vestibular, physical and cognitive components that medication and rest alone cannot resolve.

Common Symptoms of Concussion

Symptoms can appear immediately or develop over hours to days. You may notice:

• Headache or pressure in the head
• Dizziness, balance problems or unsteadiness
• Nausea, blurred vision or sensitivity to light and noise
• Feeling mentally "foggy," slowed or confused
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering
• Fatigue disproportionate to activity
• Irritability, low mood or feeling more emotional than usual
• Disrupted sleep

A key warning sign is symptoms that worsen with physical or cognitive effort. If activity significantly increases your symptoms, this signals the brain has not yet recovered and review with your physiotherapist or doctor is needed before continuing.

Who Does Concussion Affect?

• Footballers — AFL, soccer, rugby union and league
• Volleyball, basketball and netball players
• Baseball and cricket players
• Motor vehicle accident (MVA) patients — often alongside whiplash
• WorkCover patients — falls, collisions and workplace incidents
• Children and adolescents, whose developing brains are more vulnerable
• Anyone with a history of prior concussion

How Physiotherapy Can Help Manage Concussion

Our physiotherapists take a structured, evidence-based approach from your first appointment — assessing the specific systems affected and targeting treatment precisely. Rather than simply advising rest, we use active rehabilitation introduced at the right time and pace to get you better faster.

Treatment is tailored to your presentation and may include:

• Concussion assessment and diagnosis support — standardised tools including elements of the SCAT6, working alongside your GP, specialist or team doctor
• Vestibular rehabilitation — retraining the brain's balance processing to reduce dizziness, unsteadiness and motion sensitivity
• Graduated return-to-sport programme — a stepwise, sport-specific protocol with monitoring at each stage and clear communication to coaches and clubs
• WorkCover and insurance support — detailed assessment, progress reports and documentation for WorkCover, CTP and private insurance claims

Many people come to us after weeks of symptoms and no clear direction. A targeted assessment and active rehabilitation plan can make a significant difference — often from the very first session.

Return to Sport After Concussion

Return to sport is not simply a matter of feeling better. It requires a structured, stepwise progression — symptom-free at rest first, then progressively increasing activity before returning to full contact. We guide athletes through each stage, monitor for recurrence and liaise with coaches, clubs and sporting bodies throughout.

WorkCover & Motor Vehicle Accident Patients

Concussion following a workplace or MVA incident often occurs alongside other injuries and the added stress of a claims process. We are experienced in the WorkCover and CTP frameworks and provide thorough assessment documentation, progress reports and return-to-work planning to support both your recovery and your claim.