Madison Concussion Help: Brain Based Therapies For Concussion Care

A concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury that alters the way your brain functions. Concussions are most often caused by a blow to the head but can happen when the head or upper body is violently shaken. These brain injuries can cause a loss of consciousness, but not always, and this is one of the reasons why people don’t realize they’ve had a concussion. Concussions are very common, especially with participation in contact sports. Every concussion causes injury to the brain and this injury needs time, rest and often rehabilitation to heal properly.  Most concussions are mild traumatic injuries and folks can recover fully if guided appropriately.

It’s important to find the right practitioner to work with after you suffer from a concussion or other traumatic head injury. Unfortunately, traditional medicine typically doesn’t have many options to offer patients with head injuries, other than to take time off from sports and rest. They are more likely to prescribe medications to treat symptoms of a concussion, but this is not alleviating the root of the problem.

A functional medicine practitioneris a great provider to work with when you’re looking for comprehensive and effective care after a brain injury. These practitioners have extensive training in brain function and they use brain-based therapies based on current research to create customized care plans for their patients. They don’t believe in waiting to see how you’ll recover from your injury, by contrast they will recommend therapies designed to improve your brain function even on your first day of care.

Our brains are so very adaptable given the correct environment for growth.  Neuroplasticity is a common term used by neuroscientists and doctors that specialize in neurological rehabilitation referring to the brain’s ability to change at any age – for better or worse. The science of neuroplasticity and the brain is the basis of the methods of treating concussion and traumatic brain injury that a functional neurologist will use. This process can result in actual structural changes to the brain such as shrinking or growth of the grey matter and rewiring of the synapses that connect nerve cells.  As the brain changes physically so do our abilities.  

For example, each time we learn a new dance step, a new word, or anything for that matter, it reflects a change in our physical brains: new neural pathways give instructions to our bodies on how to perform the step. Each time we forget something it also reflects a change in the brain. The pathways that once connected to the memory have been minimized or dissolved completely. Changes in the brain can relate to improvement or degradation of function. The key and the challenge lie in identifying what brain mechanisms to target, and how to exercise them safely and efficiently and in the correct dose.  

There are many cutting edge brain-based therapies that can help improve neuro-pathways and brain function, especially after injury. The key is finding the right practitioner to help customize your own care. Functional neurology offers comprehensive and customized care that is designed to achieve long-term results.