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We are able to pinpoint where that dysfunction occurs by using functional MRI to look at your neurovascular coupling (i.e., the connection between your neurons and the blood vessels that bring them resources). That drains energy and takes longer, resulting in a slew of persistent symptoms that vary from patient to patient.
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In terms of your brain’s communication “highways,” that means your brain is routing blood flow and information around the damaged areas. You might be able to get to your destination, but it will be slower and harder each time you need to pass through those damaged roads. But in other places, there might be washed-out bridges, traffic lights that aren’t working, and other damage that only a repair crew can fix.
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When the storm clears, some of those areas will be accessible immediately (if perhaps a little worse for wear). Think of a concussion like a massive storm: While the storm is raging, you have to avoid areas with high winds and flooding. But for patients with lingering post-concussion symptoms, the brain gets so used to routing around areas affected by the head injury that it keeps doing so even after initial recovery. During the first few days of recovery, that inflammation can prevent your brain from using certain communication pathways the way it normally would.įor most people, those pathways resume working as normal after a week or two. When the brain hits the skull, the head trauma can result in swelling and inflammation. To understand why cognitive exercises are helpful for post-concussion patients, you first have to understand what’s causing symptoms in the first place.Ī concussion can be caused by a direct blow to the head, jostling of the brain, or whiplash. Why Do Cognitive Exercises for Post-Concussion Syndrome Work? Results are interpreted and reported differently for Gen 2 than for Gen 1 reports will not look the same if you come into the clinic for treatment. Our clinic is now rolling out second-generation fNCI which looks both at the activation of individual brain regions and at the connections between brain regions. Gen 1 scans compared activation in various regions of the brain with a control database of healthy brains. Note: Any data relating to brain function mentioned in this post is from our first generation fNCI scans. To learn whether you’re eligible for treatment, schedule a consultation. But you don’t have to live with those symptoms forever: 95% of our patients show statistically verified restoration of brain function after treatment. If your symptoms haven’t gone away after a brain injury, you’re not alone. Whether you’re waiting to start treatment, are undergoing cognitive rehabilitation, or are post treatment and looking for ways to keep your brain engaged, these exercises will help. Doing cognitive exercises at home is not enough to cause that recovery alone, but it can certainly help. You can recover from post-concussion syndrome with the right toolset.
PRINTABLE BRAIN GYM EXERCISES FULL
While not everyone with persistent post-concussion symptoms (also known as post-concussion syndrome) experiences a full recovery, patients can experience significant symptom reduction and improved quality of life from the right treatment program. Fortunately, there are strategies you can use at home, and treatment centers you can go to for help.
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But research over the past few years has revealed that resting in a dark room (known as “cocooning”) is not the best way to treat a concussion.Īnd for up to 30% of concussion patients whose symptoms do not go away with time and rest, that advice results in impatience, frustration, wasted time, and possibly worsening of symptoms. If you’ve had a concussion (or two, or three … ), there’s a good chance someone told you to rest in a dark room and do nothing until your symptoms go away.
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