Yes, Spectrum Physiotherapy offers concussion management in Newmarket for athletes, students and adults. Physiotherapy can help with the headaches, neck pain, dizziness and balance problems that often follow a concussion, and guide a safe, step-by-step return to school, work and sport. Care is led by clinical director and physiotherapist Dwayne Rebello, MSc PT, and your assessment is one-on-one with a registered physiotherapist. Our team also includes Certified Athletic Therapist Drew Laskoski, AT-R, R.Kin, who chairs the Ontario Athletic Therapists Concussion Working Group and was part of the Rowan’s Law working group.
What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury caused by a blow to the head, face, neck or body that makes the brain move quickly inside the skull. It can happen in sports such as hockey and soccer, in a fall, or in a car accident. You don’t have to lose consciousness to have a concussion.
Common symptoms include headache, dizziness, neck pain, feeling foggy, trouble concentrating, sensitivity to light or noise, poor sleep and changes in mood. Most people recover within a few weeks, but some have symptoms that last longer and benefit from a structured rehabilitation plan.
When to seek emergency care: a worsening or severe headache, repeated vomiting, a seizure, increasing confusion or drowsiness, weakness or tingling in the arms or legs, or severe neck pain can be signs of a more serious injury. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
How Physiotherapy Helps After a Concussion
- Assessment: your physiotherapist reviews how the injury happened and your symptoms, and assesses your neck, balance, eye movements and tolerance to activity.
- Neck treatment: the same impact that causes a concussion can strain the neck. Hands-on treatment and exercise can ease neck pain and neck-related headaches.
- Dizziness and balance: vestibular and balance exercises can help when dizziness or unsteadiness lingers. If positional vertigo (BPPV) is present, it can be treated too. Learn more about physiotherapy for vertigo and BPPV.
- Gradual return to activity: light physical activity, increased in steps as your symptoms allow, is part of recovery. Your physiotherapist will set and adjust these steps with you.
- Return to school, work and sport: a staged plan helps you get back to learning, working and training without setting your recovery back.
Following Canadian Guidelines
Our approach follows current evidence, including the Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport from Parachute and the international consensus on concussion in sport (Patricios et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2023). That consensus recommends early, gradual return to light activity rather than prolonged rest, and supports treatment of the neck and balance system for people with ongoing dizziness, neck pain or headaches.
In Ontario, Rowan’s Law requires athletes with a suspected concussion to be removed from play. Before a full return to contact sport, an athlete needs medical clearance from a physician or nurse practitioner. Your physiotherapist will work alongside your doctor through this process.
Who We Help
- Hockey, soccer, basketball and other athletes of all ages. See our hockey injury physiotherapy and sports rehabilitation pages
- Students returning to school after a concussion
- Adults injured in a fall, at work or in a car accident
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start physiotherapy after a concussion?
Current guidelines recommend a short period of relative rest, usually the first day or two, followed by a gradual return to light activity. Physiotherapy can start early to guide that process, and is especially helpful if neck pain, headaches or dizziness are slow to settle.
Do I need a referral?
No. In Ontario, you can book directly with a physiotherapist. If you have not yet been seen by a doctor after a head injury, we will recommend that you are medically assessed.
Is concussion physiotherapy covered by insurance?
Concussion management is physiotherapy, so it is usually covered under the physiotherapy portion of extended health benefits. We offer direct billing to many plans, direct bill all auto insurers for car accident claims, and accept WSIB claims.
Book a Concussion Assessment
Spectrum Physiotherapy is in the Dixon Medical Centre at 531 Davis Drive, Suite 101, Newmarket, and we see patients from across York Region. Contact us, call 905-853-2511, or walk in.
