Frequently Asked Questions

This is a great question and it comes up often. The newest research discusses using a multimodal approach to treating post concussion injury/symptoms. And more recently the term concussion subtypes has been developed to group certain types of symptoms into categories.

We use specific and individualised orthopedic testing to determine what your unique rehabilitation program will be. Manual therapy approaches utilized in the Concussion Recovery Protocol ™ (CRP) work with the soft tissue, lymphatic system and blood flow, similar to the combined approach of craniosacral, massage and physiotherapy. We will assess the muscular and structural imbalances with the eyes, neck and jaw while increasing the blood flow and lymphatic flow of the entire body to enhance healing mechanisms. We address the entire physical system while also addressing the specific areas of injury.

Additionally, we discuss the use of exercise as part of the recovery process which includes guidance to what types of exercise, how to include exercise and consistent monitoring to stay within appropriate thresholds for your specific symptomatology.

Initial visits are about 45min with follow up visits ranging from 30-45min depending on the individual.

In an acute situation treatment times can be as little as 5 minutes (if you are courtside or sideline) because we address the specific injury rather than the whole body. After several hours or days the benefits are greater to address the entire body in a full treatment. It is always recommended that even in an acute situation, that the player see the therapist within the week for a whole body balancing and additional therapy for the injured area and for prevention of chronic issues.

Specific treatment plans will be discussed after the assessment and first treatment.

When we are talking about concussions, it really depends on the length of time from when the concussion happened to the treatment time.

If you browsed through the testimonials you will have noticed varying amounts of sessions needed.

Most concussions on athletes that are treated within a few weeks, tend to resolve in 1 or 2 sessions. If you have had Post Concussion Syndrome for months or years the amount of sessions vary greatly. I find it often depends on the severity of the damage, willingness to change lifestyle habits, length of time since the concussion, gender differences, amount of concussions sustained and potentially other unseen factors.

I have seen very positive results in 3-4 sessions. With any chronic condition many modalities will assign a blanket time of # years of injury=# of months of recovery. I find with the CRP that isn’t always the case and many conditions resolve nicely within 4-12 treatments. It’s an individual process and like with any therapy, the more willingness to heal, the faster the results.

No. Only a physician can diagnose a concussion. All other health practitioners can provide assessments but may not specifically say “ you have a concussion”.

As well, only a physician can technically clear you to return to play or return to work.

Not at all.

This modality is gentle in application and adheres to the current model that is often recommended. Many people utilize some form of hands on therapy in an effort to feel better whether they are under the care of a specialist or not.

What you do want to be careful of is to not over treat. Too many appointments in a week can be conflicting as the body and brain need some assimilation time before having another form of therapy. It can also be quite overwhelming for those with persistent post concussion syndrome to have many appointments in one week. Always check with your practitioner on how best to bring the multi-modal approach into your care plan so that you get the best aspects of everything you are doing.

Absolutely.

I have worked on many children including my own (concussion related, sport injury and wellness) since they were infants (they are now young adults).

There are no harsh manipulations, no deep tissue movements, no needles (like IMS or acupuncture). The Concussion Recovery Protocol ™ (CRP) is an ideal choice for children and youth because of its effectiveness and gentleness in approach.

If you are an otherwise healthy young athlete (ages 16+) and have been medically cleared - as soon as possible is the best approach. If there is not an opening in the schedule, please make sure you contact me directly or make sure the receptionist contacts me ASAP so we can find a time that works. Timing is crucial for sport related concussion intervention.

This technique is very safe and gentle with no known contraindications, however for children who have suffered a non sport related injury (falls, car accidents, etc), it’s best to wait for medical clearance and for 5-7 days post accident for manual intervention.

For those who have suffered a car accident, please wait for 5-7 days post accident and have received medical clearance for manual therapy.

Be sure to download the free infographic on safe tips that you can utilize soon after injury.

Registering & Arriving
Please call or book online. You will be prompted to fill out your paperwork digitally. If you have visual/screen related issues that prevent you from completing digital paperwork, please let us know ahead of time so that we can prepare your paperwork for your arrival. When you schedule your appointment online or over the phone, you will provide your personal details to open your file. When you arrive, expect a warm welcome to our small clinic as you get off the elevator and you will be guided to take a seat in the waiting area.

Time
Your initial intake appointment will be 60-90 minutes long.

When it’s time for your appointment, your practitioner will greet you and walk you back to the treatment room.

We respect everyone’s time and do our best to keep everyone on time, though occasionally, some appointments may run a few minutes over.

Your appointment will begin with a general health intake and screening exam and/or assessments followed by concussion treatment.

Concussion Treatment
Treatment consists of soft tissue manipulation of muscle, nerves and tendons, interspersed by short pauses that allow the body to integrate the effects. Each session may be slightly different based on the individual and often includes a reassessment of eyes, neck, jaw etc as needed.

Acute symptoms can often be resolved in 1-2 sessions. Chronic situations may require 4-12 sessions, depending on personal health, symptoms and progress.

Once symptoms are eliminated you may then begin your Return to Work or Return to Play graded protocol as set out by your primary care physician or trainer.

Gentle rehabilitative exercises may also be prescribed.