Traumatic brain injuries are a common occurrence in medical practice. Frequently, they carry a set of long-lasting symptoms that sometimes can be classified as a standalone disorder. The most common is the post-concussion syndrome, known as PCS, which affects up to 10% of patients with a history of a single concussion (as cited in “What is PCS?”, n.d.). This paper aims to shed light on the cause of the disease, as well as its treatment and prevention methods.
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that arises from vehicle collisions, sports injuries, and falls, impacting perception, memory, thinking, and mood. The symptoms include the difficulty of orientation in space, impaired vision, temporary trouble remembering, and slowed thinking, and they become classified as PCS when they last for three or more months. According to Ponsford et al. (2019), the probability of PCS occurring increases with a patient’s history of psychological issues, as well as losing consciousness. Current treatment methods, as new research shows, can use some improvement.
When a concussion occurs, patients are instructed to rest physically and mentally. However, Leddy, Baker, and Willer (2016) suggest that timely implementation of aerobic exercise can lead to better recovery, which in turn would minimize the risk of PCS occurrence. Also, the avoidance of a second concussion, as well as maintaining consciousness in the moment of injury and timely notification of the ambulance staff, are the research-advised preventative methods for the development of the PCS (Ponsford et al., 2019). These steps, alongside being attentive to one’s surroundings as well as taking active steps to prevent a head injury while playing potentially dangerous sports, can decrease the possibility of a concussion, thereby lowering the chances of PCS.
References
Leddy, J. J., Baker, J. G., & Willer, B. (2016). Active rehabilitation of concussion and post-concussion syndrome. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics, 27(2), 437-454.
Ponsford J., Nguyen S, Downing M., Bosch M., McKenzie J. E., Turner S., … Green S. (2019). Factors associated with persistent post-concussion symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury in adults. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 51(1), 32-39. doi: 10.2340/16501977-2492.