A concussion is a brain injury caused by a blow, jolt or sudden movement that shakes the brain inside the skull. You do not need to lose consciousness or hit your head directly to get one. A hard tackle, a fall, a car accident or a heavy whiplash can all cause concussion.
Most concussions settle within a couple of weeks, but some symptoms hang around longer. The recovery process is now understood to benefit from structured physiotherapy, especially in the first few weeks. We see people for concussion at our Pimpama clinic, and we also offer home visits across the Gold Coast, Logan and Brisbane.
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What Is A Concussion?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury. The impact does not have to be to the head itself. A force through the body that whips the head and neck can be enough to shake the brain and change how it works for a while.
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That is why two people with the same knock can have very different symptoms. The injury affects a mix of systems, and recovery is about settling each of them down in the right order.
Common Concussion Symptoms
Concussion symptoms can show up straight away or build over the following days. They commonly include:
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Headache​
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Dizziness or feeling off-balance​
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Nausea​
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Difficulty concentrating, or brain fog​
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Sensitivity to light or noise​
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Neck pain or stiffness​
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Sleep disturbance​
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Feeling slowed down or not quite yourself​
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Anxiety or low mood
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If symptoms are not clearly improving after two to four weeks, that is a signal to get a proper assessment rather than wait it out.
Why Early Concussion Physiotherapy Matters
The old advice was to rest in a dark room until you felt better. Current evidence points the other way. Prolonged rest can slow recovery for most people, while carefully graded activity, guided by a clinician trained in concussion management, can support a faster and smoother return.
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The numbers back this up. Under the current international consensus, most adults recover within about two weeks and most children and teenagers within about four weeks. Around 10% to 30% of people go on to have symptoms that last longer, known as persistent post-concussion symptoms, and these tend to respond best to targeted rehabilitation rather than continued rest.
The Neck (Cervical Spine)
The same force that causes a concussion often injures the neck. Neck problems can produce headaches, dizziness and nausea that look exactly like concussion symptoms, so sorting out the neck is a key part of recovery.
Our neck pain and whiplash page covers this in more detail.
The Vestibular System (Inner Ear And Balance)
The balance system in the inner ear is frequently disrupted by a concussion, which leads to dizziness and unsteadiness. Targeted vestibular exercises help retrain it.
This overlaps with our work on vertigo and dizziness.
The Visual-Oculomotor System (Eye Coordination)
Concussion can upset how your eyes track and team together, causing blurred vision, eye strain or trouble with screens. Specific eye and gaze exercises help recalibrate this.
The Three Systems We Assess
After a Concussion
Most concussion symptoms trace back to three systems. We check each one.
What Concussion Treatment Looks Like
Every recovery plan starts with a physical and neurological assessment. Once we know which systems are driving your symptoms, treatment is built around them and your goals. It commonly includes:
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Neck treatment, with gentle hands-on therapy and strengthening for the cervical contribution
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Vestibular and visual exercises to settle dizziness and reduce screen and balance issues
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Sub-symptom exertion training, a guided, gradual increase in activity using your heart rate and symptoms as the guide, so you build tolerance without triggering a flare-up
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Return-to-activity guidance, with staged plans for work, study and sport
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We also liaise with your GP, employer or coach when that helps keep everyone on the same page.
Returning To Work, School And Sport After Concussion
Return is staged, not all-or-nothing. You step up through levels of activity, and you only move to the next step once you are coping with the current one. For sport in particular, this follows the graded return-to-sport pathway set out in the Australian Sports Commission concussion guidelines. The aim is a safe return, not a rushed one.
When To Seek Urgent Care After A Head Injury
Physiotherapy is for the recovery phase, not the acute medical stage. After a head injury, go to the emergency department straight away if you have:
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A worsening or severe headache​
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Repeated vomiting​
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Weakness, numbness or slurred speech​
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Seizures​
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Unusual drowsiness or trouble waking
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If you are unsure, always get medical clearance from a GP or hospital first. We pick up the recovery once you are medically cleared.
Concussion Physiotherapy In Pimpama And On The Gold Coast
You can see us at our Pimpama clinic, or we can come to you. We offer mobile physiotherapy across the Gold Coast, Logan and Brisbane, which helps when symptoms make travel or screen time difficult. Our team also has strong neurological physiotherapy experience, which is useful given how closely concussion overlaps with balance, the neck and the brain.
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If your concussion came from a car accident or a workplace incident, treatment may be covered under CTP insurance or WorkCover. Ask us and we will help you work out your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Recovering From a Concussion?
Book a concussion assessment at our Pimpama clinic, or request a home visit on the Gold Coast, Logan or Brisbane.​
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Phone 0432 730 386 or email admin@pimpamaphysio.com.au.