Concussion Recovery (Post-Concussion Symptoms)

Also known as: Concussion recovery, Post-concussion syndrome, Mild traumatic brain injury recovery, Post-concussive symptoms, Sports concussion, mTBI

Concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head or body. Most people recover within two to four weeks, but a minority develop persistent post-concussion symptoms: headache, dizziness, poor concentration, fatigue, light and noise sensitivity, sleep disturbance and low mood [1][2]. Current management emphasises early relative rest for 24 to 48 hours followed by graduated return to activity, with sub-symptom-threshold aerobic exercise now recommended rather than prolonged strict rest [1][2][3]. Red flags such as worsening headache, repeated vomiting, seizure, unequal pupils or increasing drowsiness require emergency care to exclude intracranial bleeding [1][4]. In Chinese medicine post-concussion symptoms are understood as trauma causing Blood stasis in the head collaterals, disturbance of the Shén 神 (mind), and later depletion of Qi, Blood and Kidney essence. Acupuncture is an adjunct to, never a substitute for, medical assessment and graduated return-to-play protocols [1][2][5].