One of the main symptoms people struggle with after sustaining a concussion is neurofatigue or brain fog. This is the feeling you get when even after a good night’s sleep, you can’t muster up the energy to tackle the day … Read More
Following a concussion, cognitive challenges may arise with attention, concentration, being easily distracted, brain fog, and memory problems. This is common and can negatively impact your daily function. Apps will not remediate the problems but can help you improve your … Read More
The simplest definition of a concussion baseline test is a series of physical and cognitive tests that measure healthy brain function before a sports season starts – and before an injury. This is a “benchmark” for comparison if a concussion … Read More
The Pediatric Concussion Treadmill Test (PCTT) is used primarily for the assessment and management of concussions. It is adapted from the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test (BCTT) for those aged 12 and under. It helps healthcare providers understand the patient’s ability … Read More
Sleep disturbance and concussions are closely interrelated. An estimated 30%–70% of concussion patients report difficulty sleeping in the first few weeks post-injury (Mosti et al., 2016). Insomnia symptoms are reported in 30% of people, and 43% to 73% of people … Read More
Concussion and Cognition After a concussion, cognitive abilities can be affected in various ways, depending on the nature of the injury and individual differences. This is commonly seen in people with concussions at all ages. Most of these symptoms resolve … Read More
In the realm of medical conditions, few are as mysterious and frustrating as tinnitus. Defined as the perception of noise or ringing in the ears without an external source, tinnitus affects millions worldwide, significantly impacting their quality of life. While … Read More
After a concussion, one of the many symptoms that one can experience is dizziness. Among those who suffer a concussion, dizziness is the second most common symptom after headaches (Gianoli, 2022). There are three common origins of dizziness that … Read More
We often receive questions about what happens during your first visit at Shift when you get a concussion… At Shift Concussion Management, all of our rehabilitation professionals are trained on the same concussion program. So, your assessment will be identical … Read More
In many who suffer from persistent concussion-related symptoms, sleep disturbance is a frustrating component of the injury. Sleep disturbance after a concussion may include difficulty falling asleep, early awakening, irregular sleep-wake patterns, and/or daytime fatigue and sleepiness. Sleep disturbance can … Read More
Gratitude is so much more than remembering to say ‘thank you’. Exercising gratitude can help promote the production of dopamine and serotonin in the brain and greatly contribute to improving your mood and overall health. Training yourself to see the … Read More
For the month of June, Shift is joining the Brain Injury Association of Waterloo Wellingtons Walk-a- Thon to encourage our staff, patients and community members to get active! The following are five ways to easily add more activity to your … Read More
Jaw pain from wearing a face mask? The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is a complex joint where every part connects with another. If you are wearing a mask you can’t move your jaw around openly the way you could if you … Read More
While we know that following a concussion there are many changes in our cognition, little research has examined whether individuals recovering from a concussion are in fact safe to drive. Unfortunately, no formal guidelines exist in determining a driver’s readiness … Read More
There are many different foods that have been shown to promote cognition, memory, mood and help heal and prevent neurological disorders such as concussions, strokes, Alzheimers, dementia and Parkinsons. Whether you are recovering from a brain injury, or would just … Read More
Second impact syndrome (SIS) develops when an individual suffers a second traumatic brain injury before symptoms from a previous brain injury have completely resolved. Typically, this second blow occurs within 2 weeks of the initial injury where the normal response … Read More
We frequently get asked, is there a magic pill to treat a concussion? The simple…. answer NO! This is a tough question to answer because the solution is that every client would benefit from an integrated approach to care. While … Read More
We know that management of a concussion requires a multimodal and multidisciplinary approach. When your health care provider is considering treatment, they must consider a variety of influences. These include treatment of the cervical spine, vestibular rehabilitation, sleep management, low … Read More
Movember is more than just a month of the year used as an excuse by men to grow a beautiful (sometimes) moustache. It stands for much more. Movember is a movement and a foundation used to create conversation surrounding men’s … Read More
When talking about what a concussion is from what it is not, it is important to view the injury from both a functional and a physiological perspective. Functional can be defined as something that is practical and useful. A broad … Read More
We are all aware of the restrictions COVID-19 has placed on us personally and professionally. This time has forced us to be reflective on our current practices and challenged creativity in ways we have, historically, never experienced. We are not … Read More
We are finding the current COVID-19 situation mirrors concussions in several ways: External stressors that are out of our control Difficulty navigating the landscape appropriately for an effective response Persevering through what feels like infinite “unknowns”, and much more. This … Read More
Is you or someone you know suffering with noise sensitivity following a head injury? Noise sensitivity and tinnitus are common hearing disturbances following a concussion. In one study published in 2003, noise sensitivity after concussion was found in 50% to … Read More
If you’re a patient struggling to understand the concussion recovery pathway and asking your self: who to see, which professional is responsible for certain decisions, when do you need to perform certain activities, why am I feeling this way, or … Read More
In the past few years, there has been an increasing interest in concussions. As we know, many potential concussions go unreported and many of these athletes continue to play while symptomatic ignoring the importance of sitting out. Recent guidelines recommend … Read More
Exercise is Medicine for Concussion We all know there are plenty of benefits of incorporating exercise into our everyday life, from improving quality of life, to preventing injuries, to even helping us battle our weekend chores. In fact, exercise has … Read More
NeuroTracker & Sports Performance What Is It? NeuroTracker emerged out of 20 years of neuroscience research to enhance mental performance to make you the best athlete. NeuroTracker takes advantage of a modern neuroscience principle, neuroplasticity – the brains incredible ability … Read More
Females are 2-10x More Likely To Tear Their Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) than males! Why is this and how can we help? The ACL is a ligament located in the knee joint. It’s job is to prevent the shin bone … Read More
Vestibular Disorders that we treat! We hear people talking about vestibular disorders more and more lately. Feelings of dizziness, nausea, poor balance, sense of movement and difficulties with changing positions are just some of the terms used to describe a … Read More
Diagnosed with Knee Osteoarthritis? Approximately 1 in 5 Canadians are living with arthritis and osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type. It leads to pain, stiffness and decreased function. Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage is the … Read More
A big myth surrounding athletic therapy is that it is only for athletes! Actually, athletic therapists treat many different people. Athletic therapy can help kids with a sports injury, people with concussions, seniors trying to maintain an active lifestyle, and … Read More
What is Sciatica? Sciatica refers to pain associated with the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the human body. It originates in the low back and travels through the buttock down the back of each leg and to the foot. … Read More
We often hear this question from new patients calling into the clinic — unsure of where to go or who to see for their specific ailment, whether it is lower back pain, a headache, or some musculoskeletal condition. The truth … Read More
Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS) is a complex disorder defined by a wide range of symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, sleep problems, anxiety and depression that persists weeks to months after a concussion injury. Not everyone who sustains a concussion goes … Read More
Physiotherapy is a branch of rehabilitation that aims to help patients recover and maintain physical abilities through natural means. Physiotherapists use of education, stretching, strengthening, mobilizations, and manipulations to help relieve pain in your body — in the same way … Read More
Lower back pain is a very common health problem worldwide and a major cause of disability — affecting performance at work and general well being. Approximately 65-80% of adults will experience an episode of low back pain at some point … Read More
Knee pain comes in many shapes and forms. In this blog, the team at Shift has identified 6 of the most common causes of knee pain, their symptoms, and explained how we can help with a treatment plan. Keep reading … Read More
What is Vertigo? Many people confuse the terms ‘vertigo’ and ‘dizziness’. Dizziness is a term that is often used to describe a variety of sensations, and tends to mean something different to each person. For example, one person may describe … Read More
Acupuncture has its roots in ancient China, although this treatment technique has garnered widespread Western medical acceptance in recent years. Clinical trials have shown it to be a safe and effective stand-alone or adjunct treatment method for a variety of … Read More
Osteopathy is a safe and natural therapy that focuses on the framework of the body: the bones, ligaments, muscles, and connective tissues or fascia. Osteopaths assess the condition of the musculoskeletal system, looking for areas of weakness, imbalance or excessive … Read More
Thanks to the infamous Sidney Crosby concussion and neck injury saga, which began in 2011, public awareness of the injury has grown immensely. Recent research efforts have shed more light on this ‘invisible injury’ and debunked several long-standing concussion myths … Read More
Here at Shift Rehabilitation, we have a unique, interdisciplinary approach to treating our patients. Our clinical team is made up of 8 practitioners trained in Physiotherapy, Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Massage Therapy and Athletic Therapy. When you come to visit us, our … Read More