Managing Post-Concussion Vertigo: Best 3 Physiotherapy Tips for Improving Focus and Coordination

Dizziness after a concussion can significantly affect the ability to concentrate and coordinate, presenting a challenge for those trying to return to their daily activities. In Beaumont, Vestibular Physiotherapy offers specific vertigo physiotherapy techniques that are extremely effective in treating these symptoms. This type of therapy is particularly beneficial for conditions such as post-concussion dizziness and other balance disorders. As part of vestibular rehabilitation, patients complete a series of targeted exercises aimed at restoring their balance and improving neurological functions. practitioner of Vestibular physiotherapy In Beaumont are able to help people regain control of their movements after a concussion and improve their overall quality of life.

Here are the three best physical therapy tips to improve concentration and coordination when treating dizziness after a concussion:

1. Vestibular rehabilitation exercises

Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) is a cornerstone of vestibular physical therapy in Beaumont and aims to treat the symptoms of dizziness and lightheadedness associated with post-concussion syndrome.

Exercises for gaze stabilization

One of the most important methods in vestibular rehabilitation is gaze stabilization. These exercises are crucial for patients who experience visual disturbances with head movements that can significantly impact daily activities.

• Techniques used: The exercises BEFORE X1 and X2 are common techniques for gaze stabilization. The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) is a mechanism in the inner ear that maintains gaze during rapid head movements. In VOR X1 exercises, the patient focuses on a stationary target while moving their head back and forth or up and down. In VOR X2 exercises, the target moves in the opposite direction to the head, adding an additional layer of difficulty.
• These exercises help train the eyes and brain to maintain focus despite head movements, reduce dizziness, and improve visual focus. Over time, these activities help improve visual field stability, which reduces dizziness symptoms and improves quality of life.

Balance training

Balance training is important for improving coordination and reducing the risk of falls, which is particularly important for individuals who suffer from balance problems.

• Activities Involved: This component of VRT includes exercises such as walking along a straight line, standing on one foot, or performing heel-to-toe gaits. More advanced exercises might include the use of balance boards or activities that challenge the patient to maintain balance on unstable surfaces.
• Goals: The primary goal of balance training is to improve the patient’s ability to maintain static and dynamic balance. This training helps strengthen the body’s responses to balance problems, which can help prevent falls and increase confidence in daily activities.

These exercises help stabilize vision, improve balance, and improve the brain’s ability to compensate for changes in the inner ear, resulting in improved concentration and coordination.

2. Habituation exercises

Habituation exercises are another important part of vestibular rehabilitation and are particularly useful for patients experiencing dizziness due to post-concussion symptoms. These exercises involve repeatedly exposing the patient to certain movements or visual stimuli that trigger dizziness. This helps:

• Methodology: Habituation involves repeatedly exposing yourself to the movements or visual stimuli that typically trigger dizziness. This can include repetitive movements such as bending over, looking up, or turning your head quickly.
• Therapeutic Goals: The goal is to reduce the brain’s negative response to these movements over time. As the brain becomes accustomed to the triggers, the intensity of dizziness decreases and tolerance to normal movements increases.

3. Cognitive and dual-task training

Cognitive challenges combined with physical tasks (dual-tasking) are critical to improving cognitive focus and coordination in patients recovering from concussion. These exercises help:

Improving multitasking skills

One of the main goals of cognitive training and dual-task training is to improve a person’s ability to multitask effectively. After a concussion, patients may find it difficult to perform even simple tasks that require simultaneous cognitive and physical effort due to reduced neural efficiency and processing speed.

• Exercise Performance: An example of dual-task training might involve the patient walking along a straight path while counting backwards from 100. Another exercise might involve the patient navigating an obstacle course while answering questions or solving simple math problems.
• Cognitive and physical integration: These exercises force the brain to handle both cognitive load (counting backwards, problem solving) and physical activity (walking, navigating) simultaneously. This type of multitasking stimulates the areas of the brain involved in attention, concentration and spatial imagination.

Increasing neural efficiency

Dual-task training not only improves the ability to multitask, but also increases the overall efficiency of the neural processes in the brain. Through regular activities that require the brain to perform cognitive and physical tasks together, the neural pathways are strengthened and new connections can be formed.

• Neural adaptation: Regular practice of combined cognitive and physical tasks can lead to what is known as neural adaptation, in which the brain can process simultaneous streams of information more quickly and efficiently. This adaptation helps improve the brain’s ability to coordinate and perform multiple tasks, thereby reducing cognitive load and improving reaction times.
• Application Benefits: For patients recovering from a concussion, this improved neural efficiency can significantly improve their ability to focus and maintain balance, two areas that are often affected by such injuries. Over time, as the brain becomes better able to handle these dual demands, patients may notice a decrease in dizziness symptoms and an increase in their overall functional abilities.

Regain balance and clarity

Impact Physiotherapy in Beaumont provides vestibular physical therapy for patients recovering from dizziness following a concussion. Our experienced team specializes in vestibular rehabilitation therapy, providing tailored treatments to improve concentration and coordination.

If you or someone you know is dealing with the effects of a concussion, consider expert care at Impact Physiotherapy. Our approach to vestibular physical therapy at Beaumont focuses on helping patients regain functional abilities through strategic exercises and therapies aimed at restoring balance and neurological health. Contact us to take the first step toward a full recovery.