Introduction:
Active rehabilitation for concussion involves incorporating targeted treatments, exercise, and mobility throughout the recovery schedule. The core idea behind active rehabilitation is to progressively and carefully restore physical activity while under the supervision of medical specialists with expertise in concussion management. Active rehabilitation strives to address the varied character of concussion symptoms and help the recovery of physical and cognitive abilities by modifying activities to a person's particular needs and stage of recovery. It is essential to remember that active rehabilitation should be carried out under the supervision of medical experts with expertise in concussion management. These experts can offer a thorough evaluation, create a customized treatment plan, keep track of the patient's development, and guarantee the program's success and safety.
What Is a Concussion?
Concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a type of damage that occurs when the head or body is hit with impact, causing the brain and head to move fast back and forth. This abrupt motion may cause the brain to bounce or twist inside the skull, causing chemical changes and occasionally stretching and harming brain cells.
What Is Active Rehabilitation in Concussion?
Active rehabilitation is a program that uses exercise to increase the level of function. An active rehabilitation program often starts when an accident prevents a person from working, playing, or carrying out everyday tasks.
How Is an Active Rehabilitation Session Conducted?
The rehabilitation session usually consists of the following:
At the Beginning and Conclusion of Each Visit, Patients Must Complete a Post-concussion Symptom Scale: Every therapy session begins and ends with the post-concussion symptom scale. Patients are given a list of typical concussion symptoms and asked to rate each one based on how they are feeling. This enables the therapists to keep an eye on the symptoms and monitor their development. It helps to design a customized plan for each patient.
Aerobic Exercises (Cardio and Breathing): The main aim behind this is to increase the heart rate so that the oxygen and blood supply is improved in the brain. At the same time, it is ensured that the symptoms of concussion do not worsen. The intensity and the duration are gradually increased, keeping the patient in consideration.
Ocular and Vestibular Therapy:
- Many people complain of headaches, nausea, vertigo, and dizziness after a concussion. Vision and balance issues are commonly prevalent. Disruptions in the brain's ocular (eye) and vestibular (balance) communication might cause these symptoms.
- The goal of ocular and vestibular rehabilitation is to restore the coordination of the vestibular and ocular systems. In order to achieve this, there are many different exercises like the vestibular ocular reflex chart (this graph is displayed at eye level on a wall. At the center is a huge letter A engraved, from which many different lines branch out in all directions. The patient concentrates on the A and then shifts his head back and forth along the lines) and the Brock string exercise (this exercise uses a thread with beads separated at regular intervals along it, which helps the patient to re-train the eyes to cooperate and concentrate properly).
Neuromuscular Therapy: Balance, multisensory, and cognitive exercises used in neuromuscular therapy during active rehabilitation are intended to address balance issues and restore any brain function that may have been affected by the brain damage.
How Do People Suffering From Concussion Benefit From Active Rehabilitation?
The exact role by which active rehabilitation helps a person who has suffered a concussion or a person suffering from post-concussive syndrome is not known. However, it has been suggested that aerobic exercise improves blood flow to the brain and encourages the growth of neural connections. TBI causes damage to neural circuits, thus making it difficult for them to effectively transmit electrical signals. The brain receives the nutrients and oxygen it needs during active rehabilitation to create new neural connections and enhance cognition. Exercise also has a direct influence on the hormones that regulate mood, sleep, and energy, which can affect other PCS symptoms.
Who Is a Suitable Applicant for the Active Rehabilitation Program?
Potential candidates for active rehabilitation include patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or post-concussive syndrome (PCS) who have persistent symptoms. With a customized program, even patients with secondary injuries where mobility is restricted might be able to take part. Active rehabilitation is not meant for those who have health issues that restrict their capacity for aerobic exercise.
When Should a Person Begin Active Rehabilitation?
In the majority of people, active rehabilitation often starts three weeks or so following the beginning of a concussion. Patients will undergo a one-minute test of moderate physical activity which is Step 1 of the active rehabilitation protocol (ARP), and if they show no signs of neurogenic dysautonomia (abnormal brain control of the cardiovascular response to exercise as seen on cardiac monitoring), they can continue with Step 1 parameters at home for the next two weeks before returning for the testing of Step 2. The ARP progression involves increasing intensity and duration gradually (ten to 20 percent) each week as one moves from Step 1 (gentle exercise) to Step 4 (exercise at maximum heart rate).
What Should Be Done if the Symptoms Get Worse During an Active Rehabilitation Program?
Sometimes during the active rehabilitation process, the patients might experience an increase in all their symptoms. In this case, the patient has to relax that day and stop participating in any aerobic activity. The next day, they might start over again at the same pace. They should be moved to a lower level the next day and contacted by their doctor if they still experience problems. Active rehabilitation should be stopped until the clearance is provided by the doctor if a patient develops symptoms during Step 1 of the active rehabilitation program for several days in a row.
What Can Be the Possible Side Effects of Active Rehabilitation?
The risks associated with active rehabilitation are often quite minimal if the protocol and program are properly followed. Patients should be tested for any changes in the symptoms before progressing to the next stage of the active rehabilitation program. Exercise may cause a sudden exacerbation of symptoms for some patients. The patient should follow the aforesaid regimen if this happens. The symptoms might get worse and last longer if the correct regimen is not followed.
Conclusion:
Active rehabilitation is essential for concussion recovery and treatment. Traumatic brain injuries like concussions can affect a person's cognitive, physical, and emotional health in both the short and long term. Active rehabilitation has been shown to be a successful strategy for promoting healing and regaining function in concussion patients. It includes an organized program of gradually increasing physical and cognitive exercises.
Active rehabilitation has been associated with positive results in the research, including improvements in symptom resolution, cognitive function, balance, and quality of life. Active rehabilitation also aids people in learning coping skills and self-management techniques to deal with any lingering symptoms or difficulties that may appear throughout the healing process.
