Caro, MI
Tel: 989-673-2500
Traverse City, MI
Tel: 231-263-1350
Complete Concussion Management
Managing a Sport Related Concussion
Our multidisciplinary team provides standardized care to those impacted by concussions. Effective concussion care requires a multidisciplinary approach that demands specialized training and knowledge in a variety of different treatments and therapies. This is where Complete Concussion Management Inc. (CCMI)-trained healthcare providers and CCMI's network of certified clinics, like the Lighthouse Rehabilitation Center, come in! From pre-injury multimodal baseline testing to treatment and rehabilitation, our centers offer accessible, standardized, and evidence-based care to support those impacted by
concussions.
Our role in concussion care: Whiplash Therapy, Vestibular Rehab, Visual Rehab, Nutritional Intervention, Exercise Therapy, Education & Reassurance
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WHO IS COMPLETE CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT INC. (CCMI)
The Lighthouse Rehabilitation Center is now recognized by Complete Concussion Management Inc (CCMI) and joins a network of clinics around the world offering evidence-based concussion care. From initial pre-season multimodal baseline testing to concussion treatment and rehabilitation, our partnered CCMI practitioners collaborate with primary care physicians to co-manage concussions, helping patients and athletes safely Return to Learn, Work and Play.
How Complete Concussion Management Works
Through collaboration between trained healthcare practitioners, educated coaches and trainers, and informed parents and athletes, the Complete Concussion Management system educates and empowers all those involved in sport to recognize concussions, and take the necessary steps to help an athlete safely return to sport.
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury caused by acceleration or deceleration of the brain within the skull following a significant impact to the head or elsewhere on the body. The impact causes a biochemical imbalance within the brain cells, resulting in decreased blood flow and temporary energy deficits within the brain. Symptoms may include loss of consciousness, headache, pressure in the head, neck pain, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, or balance problems, among others.
Concussion Treatment
Multimodal Baseline Testing
Multimodal baseline testing is a series of physical and cognitive tests that provides a pre-injury overview of healthy brain function. These tests can offer healthcare practitioners with an objective benchmark on which to compare should a patient sustain a concussion.
As concussion symptoms often disappear days to weeks before the brain has recovered, having valuable baseline information may help practitioners to make safer return to play decisions.
Book your baseline test at a CCMI clinic here!
Concussion Tracker Smartphone Application
Patients can view baseline test results, find recognized CCMI clinics, learn recovery tips and receive prescribed rehab exercises through the free Concussion Tracker App. Coaches, trainers and teachers can administer an assessment of a suspected concussion, report the injury into a CCMI clinic, and track patient recovery. The app supports safe return to learn, work and play by allowing for seamless communication between sports teams, schools, parents and healthcare practitioners.
Download the Concussion Tracker App here!
Complete Concussion Management Network
The CCMI network of recognized clinics provide standardized, evidence-based concussion care to those impacted by, or at risk for concussion. All recognized clinics and practitioners are connected through a secure Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, allowing access to patient medical files. Through this integrative technology, patients can be confident that they will receive consistent, quality care at any CCMI clinic location.
For more information about Complete Concussion Management Inc. visit www.completeconcussions.com.
The Lighthouse, Caro and Traverse City locations, has certified practitioners. Please ask for Karley G. (Caro) and Emily W. (Traverse City) for information in regards to our sports concussion program. Our team is able to travel to school locations to provide the baseline testing portion of the program. Our team will also educate school staff, parents, athletes, primary care providers, and others about concussion and what the program offers. Clear directions will be given to all parties how to register and use the app.
The Lighthouse is excited to offer many other programs including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, music therapy, vocational programs, social work, psychology services and much more! For a complete list of other programs that we provide click here.
Post-Concussion Rehabilitation
Changes in Concussion Practices:
The majority of individuals who experience concussions will make a full recovery and be able to return to their respective daily activities within 3 to 4 weeks. Recent research has found that after a concussion patients should not remain in a darkened room without any stimulation until they feel better, as this does not facilitate recovery. This is a change from what has been accepted practice. After a concussion, it is important to have relative rest during the first 24 to 72 hours followed by a gradual re-introduction of physical and cognitive activity to a level that is tolerated by the patient. Depending on the severity and symptoms, patients will progress at different rates. This is true of regular daily activities, school/work, and exercise at subthreshold levels.
Being active and having some stimulation is part of the healing process. This should not include a return to contact sports or other activities in which there is a high risk of re-injury. Resuming such activities should be done in consultation with the diagnosing professional and the interdisciplinary care team. Evidence indicates that physical and cognitive activities should be started at levels below that which would trigger symptoms (subthreshold). The Lighthouse rehabilitation team will co-manage services provided with patients primary care physician and/or other treating specialists.
Referral script from any primary care or specialist can be requested to see our post-concussion rehabilitation treatment team:
It is important to assess the patient’s risk factors for a prolonged recovery, after a concussion. The presence of one or more risk factors should be identified in care plans and referrals. These risk factors include:
• High score on either the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale or the Rivermead Post-Concussion Questionnaire (determined by primary provider)
• Previous concussion history
• Persistent post-traumatic headache and migraine
• Depression/anxiety
• Symptoms/signs of vestibulo-ocular abnormalities (problems maintaining visual stability during head movements) and of cognitive difficulties (problems with perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning)
• Pre-injury history of sleep disturbance and/or post-injury changes in sleep patterns, difficulty sleeping
• Increased symptoms with return to school, work, or exercise
• Returning to a contact/risk of contact sport activity
Female concussion patients seem to be at higher risk for prolonged recovery and this should be considered along with the other risk factors when determining if multidisciplinary care is required. (Neurology Times, 2017)
Interdisciplinary care:
Some patients will need interdisciplinary care to help manage their post-concussion care. Post-concussion care requires the integration of interdisciplinary care to provide services for the constellation of symptoms that may present (physical, cognitive and/or emotional). Patients who experience persistent symptoms as well as those at risk of a delayed recovery, may benefit from a referral to a concussion clinic that has access to medical and clinical professionals with licensed training in brain injury (eg, sports medicine, neuropsychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, athletic therapy, speech and language therapy, neurology, neurosurgery, and rehabilitation medicine). Patients need access to timely coordinated interdisciplinary care that includes the primary care provider.
The Lighthouse has specialized in brain injury since 1987.