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Concussion Treatment & Recovery

Specialized concussion and post-concussion syndrome treatment in South Surrey. Evidence-based physiotherapy for a safe return to school, work, and sport.

Symptoms & causes

Common symptoms

  • Headache or pressure in the head
  • Dizziness, vertigo, or balance problems
  • Brain fog, difficulty concentrating, or memory issues
  • Sensitivity to light and noise
  • Fatigue and low energy
  • Nausea, especially with screens or busy environments
  • Neck pain and stiffness
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Irritability, anxiety, or changes in mood
  • Sleep disturbances - sleeping more or less than usual

Common causes

  • Sports injuries and collisions
  • Motor vehicle accidents, including whiplash without head contact
  • Falls, at any age
  • Workplace accidents
  • Being struck by an object or person
  • Any force that causes the brain to move rapidly within the skull

How We Treat Concussion

Concussion recovery is one of our clinic’s core specialties. Lingering symptoms rarely come from the brain injury alone - they usually involve the vestibular (balance) system, the visual system, the neck, and the nervous system’s regulation of blood flow and energy. Our assessment looks at all of these. Treatment typically combines vestibular therapy for dizziness and balance problems, hands-on manual therapy for the neck injuries that almost always accompany a concussion, craniosacral therapy to calm the nervous system, and applied neurology to retrain visual and balance reflexes. Our South Surrey clinic welcomes patients from White Rock, Langley, Delta, and nearby communities.

What to Expect

Your initial assessment includes a detailed history of your injury and symptoms, screening of your neck, vestibular and visual systems, and balance testing to identify exactly which systems are driving your symptoms. From there we build a graded plan: hands-on treatment for the neck, specific gaze-stabilization and balance exercises, guidance on managing screens, school, and work, and a progressive return to exercise based on your symptom response. If your concussion is from a car accident, ICBC covers your physiotherapy with direct billing - bring your claim number to your first visit. Recovery timelines vary, but most patients see meaningful improvement within the first several weeks of targeted treatment, even when symptoms have persisted for months.

Learn more: Read our guides on 5 common misconceptions about concussions, understanding vestibular physiotherapy, and the dural layers of the central nervous system.

Prevention & self-care

Prevention tips

  • Wear properly fitted helmets for cycling, skiing, and contact sports
  • Follow graduated return-to-sport protocols after any head injury
  • Strengthen neck muscles, especially in young athletes
  • Address balance or vision problems that increase fall risk
  • Report symptoms early - playing through a concussion increases risk
  • Allow full recovery before returning to sport, school, or work

When to see a physiotherapist

  • Symptoms lasting more than a few days after a head injury or whiplash
  • Dizziness, balance problems, or visual disturbance after a concussion
  • Headaches that persist or worsen over time
  • Difficulty returning to school, work, screens, or exercise
  • Symptoms that flare with activity or busy environments
  • Lingering symptoms weeks or months after the original injury

Meet the Practitioners

Our team of experienced physiotherapists and kinesiologists are ready to help you on your path to recovery.

Susannah Reid

Susannah Reid

Clinic Owner & Registered Physiotherapist

Michaela Toffoli

Michaela Toffoli

Registered Physiotherapist

New to physiotherapy?

Start with an assessment. You do not need to choose a treatment technique.

First visit & fees

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to hit my head to have a concussion?
No. A concussion is caused by the brain moving rapidly inside the skull, which can happen from a whiplash-type force without any direct head contact. This is common in car accidents, where neck injury and concussion frequently occur together. If you have concussion symptoms after an accident or fall, an assessment is worthwhile even if you never hit your head.
Is complete rest the best treatment for a concussion?
No - this is one of the most common concussion myths. Current evidence supports 24-48 hours of relative rest, followed by gradual, symptom-guided return to activity. Prolonged complete rest (sometimes called cocooning) can actually delay recovery. We guide you through a structured, progressive plan so you return to activity at the right pace for your brain.
When should I start physiotherapy after a concussion?
Early assessment is helpful - typically within the first week or two after injury. Physiotherapy is especially important if symptoms last beyond 10-14 days, if you have dizziness or neck pain, or if you are struggling to return to school, work, or sport. For persistent post-concussion symptoms, treatment can help even months or years after the original injury.
How does physiotherapy help concussion recovery?
Many lingering concussion symptoms come from treatable sources: the vestibular (balance) system, the visual system, the neck, and the autonomic nervous system. We assess each of these and treat what we find - vestibular rehabilitation for dizziness, manual therapy for neck dysfunction, gaze stabilization exercises for visual symptoms, and graded exercise to restore exercise tolerance.
Is concussion treatment covered by ICBC after a car accident?
Yes. If your concussion is from a motor vehicle accident, ICBC pre-approves 25 physiotherapy sessions within the first 12 weeks of your accident date, and we bill ICBC directly. Bring your claim number and accident date to your first visit. Extended health plans also typically cover physiotherapy for concussions from other causes.
What is post-concussion syndrome?
Post-concussion syndrome refers to symptoms that persist beyond the typical recovery window - usually more than 4 weeks in adults. Symptoms like headaches, dizziness, brain fog, and fatigue are real and treatable. Our assessment identifies which systems are still affected, and targeted treatment helps most people make meaningful progress, even long after the injury.

Ready to Start Your Recovery?

Book your initial assessment with one of our experienced physiotherapists at South Surrey.