Concussions
Concussion (or mild TBI) is suspected when a blow to the head or body occurs that induces an acceleration of the brain and causes at least one symptom from an established list.
Many symptoms may appear such as headaches, neck pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, lack of energy and fatigue, irritability, sadness, anxiety and much more. There is no diagnostic test to establish a concussion, it is more of a functional disturbance than a structural damage to the brain. Imaging tests (CT, MRI) are done when we want to ensure there is no intracranial bleeding.
What happens during an appointment?
If you suspect you have suffered a concussion, it is important to rest and make an appointment with your health care professional who has expertise in concussions (doctor, physiotherapist, athletic therapist, other).
During a physiotherapy evaluation, the therapist ensures that the client does not present any condition requiring an emergency medical consultation. He evaluates and treats, among other things, the neck and vestibulo-oculo-motor abilities. The physiotherapist can establish a protocol with recovery phases specific to each activity whether it is school, work or return to sport. With the help of manual therapy and the prescription of exercises (cervical, respiratory, cardiovascular, visual, etc.), physiotherapy optimizes the recovery from a concussion.
The cumulative effect of multiple concussions
Proper recovery from each concussion is the best way to avoid the adverse effects of multiple concussions. A person becomes more vulnerable to subsequent concussions and may experience more severe or persistent symptoms and a longer recovery time.The importance of a « baseline » for athletes
The pre-season evaluation, also called "baseline", is a set of objective tests that assess a variety of dimensions (history, memory, strength, speed, etc.), which together can be used to re-evaluate the complete rehabilitation of the brain before a safe return to sport. If you run a sports team and would like to offer this preventive service to your players, contact us and we can organize consecutive sessions for the players.
Interesting facts :
The most recent studies show the sooner people seek help after a concussion, the faster they recover.
It is false to believe that only time will heal a concussion. Consulting an expert remains your best solution to ensure a proper recovery.
The physiotherapist’s role may also be to ensure the health and safety of athletes in sport activities.
Our therapists
-
Célia SutterPhysiotherapist -
Marie-Andrée DufourPhysiotherapist
-
Maxime BesnerFounder & Physiotherapist
Célia Sutter
Célia always ensure to keep her Sports First Responder training up to date to be able to work on the field but also completed her levels 1 and 2 in manual therapy with the Association québécoise de physiothérapie manuelle orthopédique (AQPMO). Since October 2019, Célia has developed a new interest in the dry needling approach (PPAS - Puncture Physiothérapique avec Aiguilles Sèches). This technique brings her new challenges at the clinic and a wonderful new tool to help her patients.
In March 2021 Célia participated in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. She is giving 1-2 days a week to help move things along so that we can all find a ‘back to normal’ lifestyle as fast as possible. She looks forward to the time when we can start traveling again!
To enjoy life to the fullest and help to unwind in her freetime, Célia enjoys all kinds of outdoor activities such as soccer, yoga, slacklining, running, biking, kayaking, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, skating, camping and hiking! Most recently, Célia has also found a passion in her new garden. Time will tell if this will bring fruit!
Marie-Andrée Dufour
In order to deepen her skills in physiotherapy, she has completed a course on concussion management and has developed an expertise for vestibular conditions. She has also taken several other courses including the McKenzie Part A approach for lower back problems as well as the Level 1.0 running analysis. She plans to continue developing her expertise in the coming years with continuing education in manual therapy.
For her mental health, she enjoys traveling to discover the history and different cultures of the world that surround us. Her goal would be to visit all the continents once in her life! For her physical health, Marie-Andrée is very passionate about sports, she regularly plays soccer and hikes, but she also enjoys all outdoor sports such as camping, kayaking, paddle boarding, cycling and running!
Maxime Besner
Maxime's reputation is well established when it comes to jaws, headaches, migraines, concussions and other neck, face and head disorders. An expert in the field, he teaches health professionals about jaw disorders and works with the majority of dentists in the west of Montreal. He is compassionate, treats his clients as a whole and does not hesitate to work with other professionals to optimize his clients' results.
Involved with sports teams since his graduation, Maxime has recently been working mainly with elite soccer players, the Quebec Freestyle Ski Team (moguls) and with local schools (Cité-des-Jeunes and the sport-études program at Chêne-Bleu).
Father of 3 children and self-described as a passionate, Maxime plays several instruments. Mainly mastering the guitar and the piano, he also plays percussion, ukulele and recently started playing the cello. Playing music is the best way for him to take a break and, as he says himself, “it helps stop the 8 hamsters running around in his head”. Camping and the outdoors are other hobbies that Maxime values as a way to take care of his mental health.
For his physical health, Maxime likes to ride his bike to work. He plays soccer, tennis, golf and also enjoys water sports such as kayaking and paddle boarding.