Concussion Therapy

As highly skilled, regulated health care professionals, chiropractors have the competencies, skills and judgment to assess and immediately diagnose the post-concussion symptoms for an athlete of all ages. Chiropractors can also make an informed referral to other providers if needed. They can and often work together with the patient’s inter-professional care team to manage their care and return-to-play, school or work decisions.

Dr. Allan Ettenson has experience treating concussion symptoms. He has received Level 2 Certification from the SHIFT Concussion Management Training Program. If you have experienced or think you have suffered a concussion' please contact Dr. Ettenson for an assessment and recommendations for a therapy program at 416-255-2200.

A concussion is a brain injury that can’t be seen on routine X-rays, CT scans or MRIs. It affects the way a person may think and remember things, and can cause a variety of symptoms. Any blow to the head, face or neck, or a blow to the body that jars your head, could cause a concussion.

Signs and symptoms of a concussion

Physical

Headache
Neck pain
Pressure in the head
Dizziness
Nausea or vomiting
Blurred vision
“Flashing lights” or “seeing stars” in vision field
Sensitivity to light or sound
Ringing in the ears
Balance problems
Feeling tired or low energy
Drowsiness
“Don’t feel right”

Emotional

Easily upset or angered
Sadness
Nervous or anxious
Feeling more emotional

Cognitive

Not thinking clearly
Feeling slowed down
Feeling like “in a fog”
Problems concentrating
Amnesia or Memory problems

Sleep-related

Sleeping more or less than usual
Having a hard time falling asleep

What to do if you suspect a concussion

In all suspected cases of concussion, the person should stop the activity right away. Continuing increases their risk of more severe, longer-lasting concussion symptoms, as well as increases their risk of other injury.

Anyone with a suspected concussion should be checked out by a medical doctor.

Red flags

Neck pain or tenderness
Double vision
Weakness or tingling in arms or legs
Severe or increasing headache
Seizure or convulsion
Loss of consciousness (knocked out)
Deteriorating conscious state
Vomiting more than once
Increasingly restless, agitated or combative
Growing confusion

If any red flag symptoms are present, call an ambulance right away. These may be signs of a more serious injury.

Concussion treatment

General recommendations for concussion recovery include a short period of rest (24 to 48 hours), followed by a gradual return to activity under the supervision of a health professional. Caring for a concussion can involve a variety of treatments to manage symptoms and a team of health professionals, including chiropractors, optometrists and physical therapists and medical doctors, depending on the symptoms and how a person’s condition improves.

Concussion healing time varies

The symptoms of a concussion usually last up to four weeks, but may last longer. In some cases, it can take months or longer to heal. If a person has had a concussion before, it may take them longer to heal the next time.

Concussion prevention

The best way to prevent concussions is to prevent the incidents that cause concussions, such as falls and motor vehicle collisions.

Concussion prevention in sports and recreation includes:

Respecting and following the rules of the sport or activity, especially rules that are in place to reduce hits to the head
Wearing properly fitted equipment, such as the right footwear to prevent falls
Training, practising and playing in ways that are appropriate for your skill level
Developing and enforcing policies and rules in sport to prevent injury, such as minimum body checking age in hockey and limiting contact practice in youth football. According to current research, these kinds of policies are the most effective way to prevent sport-related concussions.

Helmets are an important piece of protective equipment for many sports and activities. Helmets can prevent serious head injuries. However, helmets are not proven to prevent concussions.

The following links are provided by PARACHUTE a charitable organization, dedicated to education and prevention of injuries and promoting health and safety.

These links are provided for your general information and is not to be used to substitute direct medical care. Please consult with your health provider for specific recommendations in your situation.

https://parachute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Concussion-Guide-for-Adults-65-E-UA.pdf

https://parachute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Concussion-Guide-for-Athletes.pdf

https://parachute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Concussion-Guide-for-Parents-and-Caregivers.pdf

https://parachute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Return-to-School-Strategy.pdf

https://parachute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Return-to-Sport-Strategy.pdf

https://parachute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Concussion-ReturnToWork-UA.pdf