A concussion is a brain injury that occurs when you sustain a blow or jolt to your head that causes your brain to bump against your skull. You may or may not experience loss of consciousness and symptoms when you have a concussion, however it’s important not to overlook a head injury because it can affect you well into the future.
Finding the right practitioner to work with when you have a concussion or other traumatic head injury is the first step to a successful recovery. Most traditional physicians are not equipped with the knowledge and training required to properly rehabilitate the brain after a head injury.
Many patients are achieving success by working with a functional neurologist because they have extensive training in neurology and brain function. These practitioners believe in active rehabilitation rather than just rest to heal from a concussion.
Neuroplasticity is a common term used by neuroscientists and doctors that specialize in neurological rehabilitation referring to the brain’s ability to change at any age – for better or worse. One of the important findings of recent neuroplasticity research is the discovery of how our functions of sensation, movement and thought are interdependent.
Because of this interdependence, a weakness in one function is often related to—or even the cause of—a weakness in the other. The science of neuroplasticity and the brain is the basis of the methods used by functional neurologists when managing concussion and traumatic brain injury and of preventing these types of injuries in the first place.
To take advantage of this property of neuroplasticity takes a very specific approach in that the brain, just like our muscles, requires a stimulus for growth and development. Sitting on the couch and hoping your muscles grow will do no more for your muscles than sitting on the couch and hoping your concussion will go away on its own. It takes active stimulus to regrow broken neural pathways. The key—and the challenge—lies in identifying what brain mechanisms to target, and how to exercise them safely, efficiently and in the correct dose, and that is where working with a highly trained functional neurologist ensures that you receive the best care for long-term results.
Custom designed neuroplasticity-based protocols target specific brain regions and pathways to improve function. On your own, you are unlikely to find ways to rehabilitate your brain in a way that is quick, safe and comfortable.
Functional neurologists offer care that is comprehensive, customized, and best of all drug-free. The growing understanding of and interest in neuroplasticity is feeding the revolution in brain health and science. To truly capitalize on this phenomena takes accurate measurement and it is through the use of brain-based technologies that significant improvements can be made.