Doctors can now access new guidelines to treat patients whose symptoms from concussion last longer than usual and to help them get back to their normal activities. There has been much discussion in Canada about brain injury resulting from sports like hockey and football. Efforts are made to prevent concussions and there is new research on their long-term effects.
“The media, not unrealistically, identifies most concussions as occurring through sports and certainly many of them do,” says Dr. Shawn Marshall, specialist at The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and lead author of the guidelines. “But I think it’s also good to identify that concussions can occur from even regular, day to day activities, such as slipping on ice, falling down stairs or a being in a car accident.
Current guidelines focus on sports
There are currently good guidelines for returning to sports activities but Marshall says the new ones also help patients return to normal daily life.
Headache, dizziness, nausea and balance problems are common for people who suffer mild brain injuries and most symptoms go away relatively quickly. But for 5 to 15 per cent of patients the symptoms can last beyond three months.
“No matter where you are and the cause of your concussion, the vast majority of people do get better,” says Marshall. “For the unfortunate minority who do not improve (immediately) I think these guidelines can be of help for them.”
Practical information “at your fingertips”
The guidelines include algorithms on how patients should be progressing during recovery and algorithms and information on how to manage common problems that are not responding as one would expect them to. There is practical information for patients and information on medications that might help particular problems. New research results are included, such as the recommendation that resting for too long can become detrimental to a patient’s well-being, causing them to become less fit, to feel isolated and depressed.
The guidelines will be presented at conferences, in publications and will be freely available for doctors online.
“Certainly Canadian physicians are very knowledgeable but to have information at your fingertips is the way to go,” says Marshall.
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