Concussion Management in St. Catharines

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a brain injury caused by acceleration or deceleration of the brain within the skull following a significant impact to the head or elsewhere on the body. The impact causes a biochemical imbalance within the brain cells, resulting in decreased blood flow and temporary energy deficits within the brain.

 

Symptoms may include loss of consciousness, headache, pressure in the head, neck pain, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, or balance problems, among others.

To further understand what a concussion is, watch this video for an in-depth whiteboard demonstration from Dr. Cameron Marshall (@Concussion_Doc)!

What is treatment for a concussion like?

We now offer advanced concussion treatments and services at the ProActive Centre, including: 

  • Exertional testing for return-to-sport readiness and sub-symptom threshold exercise programs for persistent symptoms

  • Vestibular, oculomotor, and cervical spine rehabilitation

  • Balance, reaction time, visual processing, and neuro-cognitive testing

  • Educational resources

Each appointment is longer than your typical Chiropractic visit: the first will take 45 minutes, the second is a treadmill walking exertional test, and the third is for assessing visual, vestibular and cervical causes. At each appointment we will be giving you recommendations for optimal recovery, and suggesting a treatment plan that fits your injury. 

What should I do if I have a concussion?

If you have suffered what you think is a concussion, contact our clinic to book your post-injury assessments. This is a series of 3 appointments that will assess the many aspects of your injury, from symptoms to brain function, and will allow us to help you progress smoothly towards recovery.

During the early stage following injury, a period of relative symptom-limited physical and cognitive rest is recommended. Research suggests 24 to 48 hours; however, these decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

Following a short period of rest, the International Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport (2016) recommends a gradual increase in mental and physical activity by a licensed healthcare practitioner trained in concussion management.

Why is Baseline Testing important?

Pre-season testing is a series of physical and cognitive tests that provides a pre-injury overview of healthy brain function. These tests can offer healthcare practitioners with an objective benchmark for comparison should a patient sustain a concussion. We use the CCMI protocol, the best evidence-based tools available to provide you with comprehensive, multi-modal, proven baseline-testing. As concussion symptoms often disappear days to weeks before the brain has recovered, having valuable baseline information may help practitioners to make safer return to play decisions.

 Testing is valid for 1 year. See our fee schedule for cost.

CCMI Free Educational Resources for Coaches, Parents & Trainers

When a concussion hits, the more knowledge the better. CCMI’s free educational resources will help to increase your concussion management awareness. Download yours for free today at https://completeconcussions.com/resources/educational-resources/

Downloads available include:

Educational infographics

Concussion FAQs

Concussion Tracker App

Concussion Handbook

Concussion Code of Conduct

Implementation Guide

Concussion Tracker App

A smartphone app that supports safer return-to sport decisions for young athletes. When a concussion hits, Concussion Tracker enables an athlete’s coach, trainer or league to:

  • Report and track concussion

  • Conduct sideline assessments

  • Ensure seamless communication

  • Record athlete’s recovery status and timeline

  • Scan and share medical documents

  • Track daily symptoms for recovery progress

  • Store and view pre-season concussion test results.

Concussion Sideline Course

A 1-hour online training session for coaches, parents and trainers to learn more about identifying and managing concussions for their athletes.

Cost is $15, or FREE with a promo code. Contact the clinic and we can provide you with the code and link to take the course.

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Client Testimonials

  • "Working with Alison has been a great experience! She’s knowledgeable, caring, professional and very friendly. I feel I’m in good hands after my knee surgery! Thanks for everything you’ve taught me, I feel stronger every day!"

    Amy Dooler

  • "Simply the best! A very professional, knowledgeable and friendly team. My husband and I have been in Dr. Scott’s care for a variety of reasons over the years. Dr. Scott and team listen to our health concerns and work with us to build the most appropriate plan of action to address our needs. It’s great to have 100% trust in your health care provider! Highly, highly recommend.

    Jody Hales

  • "I’ve been coming to proactive for over 16 years now. I’ve always had 5/5 experience and trust them Immensely. Throughout our time I’ve had multiple injuries in multiple different places, and they have always help me get back to myself and pain-free. I would highly recommend to anybody! Thanks guys!"

    Trina Asselin

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Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.”

Aristotle