Jaw & Head

What It Is

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that temporarily changes the way your brain works. Most of the time the effects are only temporary, but they can include problems with concentration, judgement, headaches, memory and coordination. Concussions are often caused by a blow to the head, but they can also happen when a force to the body makes the head and brain shake violently (Cleveland Clinic, 2024). Being knocked out (losing consciousness) happens in fewer than 10% of concussions (Sport and Recreation Alliance, 2024). Because of this, a lot of people don't realise they have a concussion to begin with.

Concussions are quite common, especially in people who play contact sports such as rugby, hockey and football. Every concussion is an injury to the brain, and the brain needs time to recover. Most people with concussion make a full recovery with time (Sport and Recreation Alliance, 2024).

Concussion Anatomy

A blow to the head or body can make the brain move forwards, backwards and rotate inside the skull. This can stretch and twist the axons, the long fibres that connect nerve cells (neurons) in the brain, which interrupts communication between the neurons. In more severe injuries, some axons can become disconnected (Giza and Hovda, 2014).

Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.

Treatment

Self-Care & Treatment

How to Treat a Concussion

Once you're cleared for your daily activities, I can help ease neck and shoulder tension, and support you with rest, pacing and a gradual return to activity and sport. See the My Approach tab for how I work.

1. Rest, Then a Gradual Return

Rest and sleep as needed for the first 24 to 48 hours. Easy everyday activities, light reading and walking are fine during this time, but keep smartphone, screen and computer use to a minimum for at least the first 48 hours. After this short period of relative rest, gradually return to normal life, school or work at a pace that doesn't make symptoms more than mildly worse, before returning to sport (Sport and Recreation Alliance, 2024). Make sure an adult stays with you or your child for at least the first 24 hours, and don't go back to work or school until you're feeling better (NHS, 2025).

2. Pain Relievers

The NHS (2025) suggests painkillers such as paracetamol for headaches after a minor head injury (children's paracetamol for children). Cleveland Clinic (2024) advises not to take over-the-counter painkillers before you have been checked by a healthcare professional, and says you may need to avoid anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen. (This medicine information comes from the NHS and Cleveland Clinic, not from me. Always check with a pharmacist or your family doctor or nurse practitioner before taking any medicine.)

3. Refrain from Contact Activities

If you or your child were injured playing sport, find out when it is safe to return. Do not play contact sports for at least 3 weeks (NHS, 2025), and UK grassroots sport guidance says there should be no return to competition before 21 days from the injury (Sport and Recreation Alliance, 2024). Going back too soon is risky: another head injury before you have recovered can cause a more severe injury, including brain swelling, and in rare cases death. This is known as second impact syndrome (Sport and Recreation Alliance, 2024; Cleveland Clinic, 2024).

Tips

Playing contact or physically demanding sports increases your risk of concussion. Wear the right protective equipment, such as helmets, for your activity (Cleveland Clinic, 2024).
Falls, motor vehicle accidents, bike accidents, assaults and sports injuries are among the most common causes of concussion (Cleveland Clinic, 2024).
Young children and people over 65 are more at risk of concussion from falls (Cleveland Clinic, 2024).
If you have had a concussion before, you are more likely to have another one (Cleveland Clinic, 2024).
Don't drink alcohol until you're feeling better (NHS, 2025); UK sport guidance says no alcohol in the first 24 hours and while symptoms last (Sport and Recreation Alliance, 2024).
Don't drive until you feel you have fully recovered (NHS, 2025).
See your family doctor or nurse practitioner if symptoms last more than 2 weeks, or if you're not sure whether it's safe to drive or return to work, school or sport (NHS, 2025).

Treatment

My Approach

After a concussion, your brain needs time and a gradual return to activity, and your medical team leads that care. I don't treat the concussion itself. I work within their advice to ease the neck and shoulder tension that can come with a knock to the head, and help you rest, pace your day and build back up. I see people once they're cleared for daily activities; if you were treated in hospital, I need your medical team's okay before any hands-on treatment.

I start by asking how you're feeling that day, then assess your neck, upper back and posture, and check sensation, reflexes and strength.

Early On

Short, calm sessions in a quiet, dimly lit room
Gentle massage for the neck, shoulders, upper back and jaw muscles
Breathing and relaxation work to help you settle and sleep
Advice on pacing your day, screen time and rest

As You Recover

Gentle neck mobilisation and stretching for stiffness, never forceful
Strengthening for the neck, shoulders and upper back
Walking and light exercise that keep symptoms no more than mildly worse
Later, gym-based strength work and a graded return to sport, in step with your medical team's plan

If symptoms get worse in a session, we stop. Any emergency warning sign means calling 911 or going to the emergency room (see When to get emergency help).

What to Expect

Typical Course

Typical course: Early on, short visits about once a week, sometimes twice, then spacing out as you manage more yourself, following your medical team's plan. Most people recover fully with time; if symptoms last more than 2 weeks, check in with your family doctor or nurse practitioner, and contact sport waits at least 3 weeks.

What I Focus On

Working Within Your Team's Limits

Neck & Shoulder Release

Rest & Relaxation

Pacing

Graded Return to Activity

Please read

When to See a Doctor First

When to get emergency help

Call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital if, after a head injury, someone (NHS, 2025; Cleveland Clinic, 2024):

has been knocked out, or cannot stay awake or keep their eyes open
has a fit (seizure)
is vomiting more than once
has a severe headache that keeps getting worse
has problems with vision or hearing, or one pupil bigger than the other
has clear fluid coming from the ears or nose, or bleeding from the ears
has new numbness or weakness, slurred speech, or problems walking, balancing, understanding or speaking
is very confused or has a change in behaviour
hit their head at high speed (such as in a road accident) or fell from a height

If you hit your head, do not drive yourself to hospital (NHS, 2025).

Sources

References

NHS (2025) Head injury and concussion. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/head-injury-and-concussion/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
Sport and Recreation Alliance (2024) UK concussion guidelines for non-elite (grassroots) sport (November 2024 update). Available at: https://sportandrecreation.org.uk/files/uk-concussion-guidelines-for-non-elite-grassroots-sport---november-2024-update-accessible-version-061124084259.pdf (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
Cleveland Clinic (2024) Concussion. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15038-concussion (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
Giza, C.C. and Hovda, D.A. (2014) 'The new neurometabolic cascade of concussion', Neurosurgery, 75(Suppl 4), pp. S24–S33. doi: 10.1227/NEU.0000000000000505

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooConcussion

What It Is

Concussion Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

How to Treat a Concussion

1. Rest, Then a Gradual Return

2. Pain Relievers

3. Refrain from Contact Activities

Tips

My Approach

Early On

As You Recover

Typical Course

When to See a Doctor First

When to get emergency help

References

Related Conditions

Book a session

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooConcussion

What It Is

Concussion Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

How to Treat a Concussion

1. Rest, Then a Gradual Return

2. Pain Relievers

3. Refrain from Contact Activities

Tips

My Approach

Early On

As You Recover

Typical Course

When to See a Doctor First

When to get emergency help

References

Related Conditions

Bell's Palsy

Maxillofacial Trauma

Migraine

Skull or Facial Fracture

Book a session