What can I do to help heal from my concussion?

Okotoks Concussion Specialists

MOMENTUM Physical Therapy, located in the heart of Okotoks, is passionate about concussion care.

From initial pre-season baseline testing to concussion treatment and rehabilitation, our concussion specialist (and physiotherapist!), Lauralee Greenlaw, collaborates with your primary care physician to co-manage your concussion. This helps you safely return to learn, work and play as soon as possible.

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.

Common Concussion Symptoms:

• Loss of consciousness

• Headache

• Pressure in the head

• Neck pain

• Nausea or vomiting

• Dizziness

• Balance issues

How do you treat a concussion?

At MOMENTUM Physical Therapy our physiotherapist, Lauralee Greenlaw, has completed specialized concussion training, through CCMI, which makes him your best choice for concussion rehabilitation and management.

Lauralee’s concussion training allows her to offer:

• Specialized 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 nerocognitive testing (pre-season baseline and/or post-injury/return to sport testing)

• Educational resources

Pre-Season Concussion Testing

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 on which to compare should a patient sustain a concussion. It’s important to remember that not all baseline testing is created equal. Here at MOMENTUM Physical Therapy, we use the best evidence-based tools available to provide you with comprehensive, multimodal, 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.

Contact us to learn more about baseline testing to see if it’s right for you, 403-982-5600.

What Should I Expect at my First physiotherapy appointment for a concussion?

During your concussion physiotherapy assessment your physiotherapist will:

• Conduct a thorough physiotherapy and concussion assessment (and begin providing treatment the same day)

• Take your medical history to ensure understanding of what is occurring

• Screen out conditions that may require medical intervention and will inform your doctor of any findings - with your consent

• Discuss your lifestyle needs

• Perform a thorough physical assessment which may include examination of head, neck, spine, eyes, cognitive function and balance

• Prescribe an individualized treatment plan that will include specialized physiotherapy treatments, custom exercises and nutritional intervention to ensure you reach optimal success!

Do I Need a Doctor Referral prior to receiving concussion Treatment?

No! As with all physiotherapy services in Alberta, a doctor referral is not required to access services. All concussion assessments and treatments are also eligible for direct billing to your extended health benefit plan, should you have additional benefits through your employer. MOMENTUM is happy to offer direct billing to most insurance companies.

We're here for YOU.  

CALL & BOOK TODAY. 403-982-5600

MONDAY - FRIDAY: 7AM - 8PM

SATURDAY & SUNDAY: CLOSED

HOLIDAYS: CLOSED

MOMENTUM Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab Ltd. is a therapist owned and operated physiotherapy clinic based in Okotoks, AB.  We are happy to be a family owned, independent clinic, that serves clients of all ages.