Post Concussion

Understanding Post Concussion Care

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a sudden blow to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. This movement can disrupt normal brain function, leading to a range of physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms. While most children recover quickly, some experience lingering effects that require specialized care. At Mary Free Bed Kids, our experts provide comprehensive post-concussion evaluation and treatment to help children recover—so they can return to school, play and everyday activities safely.

Common Concussion Symptoms

Symptoms can appear immediately after injury or may develop hours or even days later. Your child may or may not lose consciousness.

Signs of a concussion may include:

• Headache • Dizziness or balance issues
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Ringing in the ears
• Blurred or double vision
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering things
• Emotional or behavioral changes (irritability, sadness, anxiety)
• Just “not feeling right”
• Sleep disturbances

If your child experiences any of these symptoms, seek medical evaluation right away.

Initial Care and When to Seek Help

After a suspected concussion, your child should stop playing sports or engaging in strenuous activity immediately and be evaluated by a medical professional.

Early care recommendations:

• Ensure your child rests and avoids physical or cognitive exertion (like sports, screen time or schoolwork) in the first 24–48 hours.
• Instead of rushing back into sports or activities, slowly reintroduce activities as symptoms improve.
• Don’t return to sports on the same day as the injury.
• If your child experiences persistent vomiting, severe headaches, confusion, vision changes or loss of consciousness, seek immediate medical care.

While most concussion symptoms resolve within days or weeks, some children experience prolonged recovery. When symptoms persist beyond four weeks, a more detailed evaluation may be needed.

Mary Free Bed Pediatric Concussion Clinic

The Pediatric Concussion Clinic at Mary Free Bed Kids specializes in helping children and adolescents who have persistent or complicated concussion symptoms. Our goal is to ensure a full and safe recovery—physically, cognitively and emotionally.

Our clinic is designed for children who experience:

• Prolonged recovery (symptoms lasting more than four weeks)
• Worsening headaches, dizziness or fatigue
• Ongoing attention or memory problems
• Difficulty returning to school or sports
• Emotional or behavioral changes following a concussion
• Balance problems
• Sleep disturbances
• Vision issues

What to Expect During Evaluation

Your child’s care begins with a thorough evaluation by our multidisciplinary team.

Step 1: Neuropsychological Assessment

Your child will first meet with a pediatric neuropsychologist, who evaluates cognitive, emotional and behavioral symptoms. You’ll discuss how these challenges impact your child’s school performance, friendships and daily life. The neuropsychologist will determine whether ongoing difficulties are related to the concussion or another factor and provide personalized recommendations.

Step 2: Physiatry Evaluation

Next, your child will meet with a pediatric physiatrist—a physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. The physiatrist reviews the neuropsychologist’s findings, performs a detailed neurological exam and identifies areas needing further treatment or support.

Step 3: Collaborative Treatment Planning

Our team meets to develop a tailored treatment plan that supports your child’s safe return to learning, physical activity and normal routines.

Individualized Treatment Recommendations

Depending on your child’s symptoms, we may recommend:

• Gradual return-to-school planning and classroom accommodations
• Return-to-play guidelines for sports and physical activity
• Physical therapy for balance, headaches, aerobic or exertional tolerance
• Continued monitoring by a physical therapist for return to sports, vestibular positioning, dual tasking and motor control
• Occupational therapy for vision, sleep disturbance, emotional regulation or impulsivity coping strategies, anxiety, irritability, sensory processing and daily living activities
• Speech therapy for attention, concentration, communication, processing speed, memory or executive function
• Psychological counseling to manage anxiety, mood changes or stress
• Medication management for headache or sleep support (as appropriate)

Our specialists work closely with families, schools and primary care providers to ensure that recovery is supported in every setting.

Supporting Post Concussion Recovery at Home

Parental involvement plays a vital role in concussion recovery. Our team provides education and coaching to help families support their child’s progress safely.

Key strategies include:

• Creating a calm environment for rest and recovery
• Gradually reintroducing light physical and mental activity
• Monitoring symptoms and avoiding overexertion
• Encouraging good hydration, nutrition and sleep
• Communicating with school staff about academic accommodations

Recovery is a process—and every child recovers at their own pace. We’ll help guide you through each step.

Your Care Team

At Mary Free Bed Kids, your child will be cared for by an experienced interdisciplinary team of pediatric specialists, including:

• Pediatric physical therapist: A therapist who focuses on restoring balance, coordination and endurance after concussion.
• Pediatric occupational therapist: A therapist who specializes in visual-motor and functional recovery.
• Pediatric neuropsychologists and physiatrists: Experts who lead the medical and cognitive aspects of care.

Together, our team is committed to helping your child return to the activities they love most.

Why Choose Mary Free Bed

Families choose our Pediatric Concussion Clinic because we provide:

• Specialized care tailored to children and teens
• Collaborative, multidisciplinary treatment plans
• Seamless coordination with schools and athletic programs
• Expertise in both the physical and emotional recovery process
• Compassionate care in a supportive, family-centered environment

Our goal is to help kids not only recover—but thrive again, safely and confidently.

Begin Your Child’s Journey

If your child has experienced a concussion and symptoms persist, we can help. At Mary Free Bed Kids, our post-concussion specialists are here to help your child heal fully—mind, body and spirit.