5 Things To Know About Concussions

Original Publication Date: April 2016

Updated October 2026

Concussions describe brain injuries that can happen in a split second, whether they come from a hard tackle on the football field, a fall on an icy sidewalk, or a tumble on the ski slopes. They can make it hard to focus at work or school, sleep well, or enjoy time with friends.

The encouraging news is that most people recover fully with the right management. Knowing what concussions are, the signs to keep an eye out for, and how recovery works are the first steps toward healing well.

What Is a Concussion?

Concussions are traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). According to the CDC, they happen when a head blow/jolt or a body hit makes your head and your brain move back and forth very quickly. That sudden motion can create chemical changes in the brain and affect how it works for a period of time.

Many people assume a concussion means being knocked out, but most concussions do not involve a loss of consciousness. Sports are one common cause for kids and teens, while falls are seen frequently in young children and adults.

Symptoms may appear instantly, or they may show up hours or days later. Signs of concussions are as follows:

  • Balance problems: Feeling unsteady, clumsy, or dizzy.
  • Changes in mood or sleep: Irritability, anxiety, or sleeping more or less than usual.
  • Headache: Headaches are one of the more common complaints after a hit to the head.
  • Noise and light sensitivity: A phone screen, classroom lights, or a crowd at a game can be difficult to handle.
  • Nausea or vomiting: Some people feel sick to their stomach or throw up soon after the concussion.
  • Trouble thinking clearly: Things might feel foggy, and you may lose track of what you were doing or struggle to remember things. 
  • Vision changes: Blurry vision is a common physical sign.

Five Things to Keep in Mind

Age and Skill Level Do Not Change the Rules

The same caution applies to a youth soccer player, a high school wrestler, and an adult in a weekend hockey league. Children and teens should always be evaluated by a professional just as adults should, though it’s important to understand that they may not be able to describe their symptoms as clearly.

Diagnosis Starts With an Exam, Not a Scan

Your provider will want to know exactly what happened: how you were hurt, what you felt right afterward, and whether you have had previously a concussion. From there, they check your balance, vision, reflexes, coordination, memory, and concentration.

Imaging plays a different role. A CT scan may be ordered when symptoms are severe, such as continuous vomiting or a headache growing increasingly worse, to look for swelling or bleeding in or around the brain.

Recovery Follows Its Own Timeline

There is no set number of days for a concussion to heal. Symptoms can be felt for days, weeks, or longer. A history of previous concussions, or more severe symptoms right after, can mean a longer road back.

Rest Does Not Mean Doing Nothing

For the first couple of days, relative rest is usually recommended. This means avoiding anything that worsens your symptoms or increases the risk for another hit to the head.

After those first few days, your provider can guide you in terms of how much to take on. Some people do well with light activities they can handle without feeling worse, like a walk around the block or an easy ride on a stationary bike. A shorter school or work day may also make the return easier.

When in Doubt, Sit It Out

If there is any chance a concussion has occurred, the athlete should stop playing and not go back that same day, even if they feel fine. A second blow before the brain has healed can cause more serious and longer-lasting symptoms. Returning to sports needs to follow a step-by-step plan supervised by a medical professional.

When to Seek Emergency Care

Anyone with a head injury should be seen by a professional promptly, even when emergency care is not needed. Seek emergency care immediately if you notice:

  • Confusion or unusual behavior: Failing to recognize familiar people or places.
  • Drainage from your nose or your ears: Clear fluid or blood coming from either.
  • Increasing drowsiness: Difficulty staying awake. 
  • Loss of consciousness: Being knocked out for any amount of time.
  • Repeated vomiting: Throwing up more than one time.
  • Seizures: Any seizure or convulsion.
  • Slurred speech or weakness: Trouble speaking, or new weakness in your legs or your arms.
  • Unequal pupils: One larger pupil.
  • Worsening headache: A headache which keeps building instead of easing.

Can Neck Exercises Help Prevent Concussions?

Many athletes and parents ask whether strengthening the neck could help prevent concussions. It is a fair question to bring to your provider or trainer, especially for athletes in contact sports.

Unfortunately, neck exercises cannot prevent concussions. Strong legs and good balance make falls less likely, and falls around the home cause many head injuries. However, no one habit can rule out a concussion, which is why the steps below work best together.

Well-established prevention steps include:

  • Fall prevention: Using handrails and taking extra care on icy steps during East Idaho winters.
  • Helmets: Wearing a well-fitted helmet for biking, skiing, snowboarding, and tackle football.
  • Safe play: Following the rules, avoiding hits to the head, and making it easy for athletes to report symptoms.  
  • Seat belts: Buckling up on drives.

How Our Team Treats Concussions

At Rocky Mountain Spine & Sport, our physiatrists evaluate and treat concussions in both adults and children. We shape each plan around your symptoms and goals. Our team also coordinates care with physical therapists who are skilled in concussion recovery.

Options include:

  • Medications: Short-term medication may help with sleep problems that sometimes follow a concussion.
  • Neurocognitive testing: These tests assess thinking skills such as memory and concentration.
  • Physical and speech therapy: A therapist can work with you on balance, vision, and problems with thinking or memory.
  • Return-to-play planning: Athletes go back to their sport in steps, adding more activity only after a provider clears them.

Lingering pain is also common. If you are dealing with headaches after a fall or collision, we can help determine whether you have a concussion, as well as discuss treatment.

Local Concussion Care in Idaho Falls and Rexburg

A concussion can leave you feeling foggy, frustrated, and unsure when life will feel normal again. You do not have to sort it out alone. Our team can help identify what is behind your symptoms and guide you toward a safe, steady recovery.

Reach out today to schedule a visit at our Idaho Falls or Rexburg location.