Concussions are to be taken seriously but so many “facts” about concussions are false.

We stay up-to-date on all the recent findings and research so we can help you get the support you need to recover from your concussion.

Concussion is a bruise of the brain - false

Even Google gets this one wrong. If you search “concussion,” you’ll still see a picture of the brain hitting the inside of the skull, apparently creating a bruise on the brain. This isn’t what happens.

What actually happens is:

the brain undergoes acceleration
fluid waves are created in the brain
axons stretch

And that’s where the injury occurs, deep inside the brain as a result of this quick stretching of the axons.

Axons are the long pathways or tracks that connect your brain cells to other brain cells to make up a network that is your nervous system.

Don’t trust Dr Google people!

More information: What is a concussion

Concussions happen from hits to the head - true but not always

Hits to the head don’t necessarily cause concussions, acceleration or deceleration of the brain cause concussions.

A concussion happens when the brain experiences a tremendous amount of acceleration or deceleration. You can actually get a concussion from getting hit anywhere in the body, not just the head, provided that enough force still goes to the head to cause acceleration of the brain. Like whiplash.

It’s also worth mentioning that just because you do get hit in the head, it doesn’t automatically mean you will have a concussion.

Yes, getting hit in the head hard is probably the easiest way to cause this acceleration or deceleration, but a hit to the head isn’t the only way.

You can see or diagnose a concussion on MRI or CT scans - false

When somebody does a CT scan or MRI, they’re looking for something more significant than a concussion: a bleed, a fracture in the bone of the skull, or structural damage to the brain. Visible damage.

A concussion is a functional injury. So, while it changes how the brain functions, it doesn’t change how the brain appears.

If you have a concussion, you’re supposed to rest - false

This one is brutal because not only is it entirely wrong, this advice is still given! And it’s not based on any scientific evidence.

The current recommendation is to limit your activity within the first 24 to 48 hours.

Be careful but don’t do absolutely nothing. You should be a little active and take some light exercise, making sure you don’t exacerbate your symptoms. And in the long run, appropriate exercise will actually help you recover faster, and limit the chance of lingering issues.

You are okay to return to your sport once you no longer have symptoms - false and a really bad idea

Do. Not. Do. This.

You would not go back to playing sport 10 days after breaking your arm, even though your arm no longer hurts, would you? No. Same with a concussion.

Just because the pain is gone, just because the symptoms are gone, doesn’t mean your brain is healed.

Most concussion symptoms will go away in the first 7 to 10 days. But full brain recovery can take 28 to 60 days.

While you are in recovery mode, there’s evidence to suggest that the brain is vulnerable to more trauma. So, if you have another concussion, those secondary concussions can cause an additive or cumulative effect, which could lead to long-term or permanent outcomes. And in extremely rare cases, even death.

When should you return? Leave that up to your health professional, who should be able to work with you to determine how your recovery is going.

Something that can help decide is baseline testing. If you regularly play a sport, or get into any other activity where you are at risk of a concussion, a baseline test is really useful. It can give you something to compare to in the event that you suffer a concussion, so we know when you’re getting back to normal.

You can treat a concussion with medications - false

There is not enough evidence to suggest that any pill or medication will successfully treat a concussion.

You may be given pain killers to help with symptoms but they don’t treat the concussion.

There is no treatment for concussion - false

There’s a whole range of things that can be done to help. These include:

Exercise therapy
Manual therapy and neck rehabilitation
Balance and visual rehab rehabilitation
Nutrition
Education and reassurance

A lot of these require you to actively engage in your recovery - exercise, rehab drills, etc - which is good because it means you’re not helpless in the face of your concussion.

Having an increase in your symptoms is bad and should be avoided - false

Concussion recovery requires rehabilitation, and much of rehab is finding that balance between what’s too much and what’s not enough.

We have to push you to feel symptomatic. If you’re doing something and it’s not provoking your symptoms, you’re not doing it hard enough, or you’re doing something that you don’t need to be doing.

Get your symptoms to go up, and then take a break. Let the symptoms come down. Do it again. Try to do it for longer this time. Wait ‘til your symptoms get to a certain threshold before stopping.

This is done with care in consultation with a qualified health professional.

After a couple of years of symptoms, recovery is not possible - false

Concussion recovery is harder the longer it drags on, but it is not impossible.

A lot of people will say they want to get better, but not many people are willing to put in the work and effort to get better.

If you want to get better, you’re going to have to work with a knowledgeable healthcare provider and do whatever it takes to get well.

We hope this helps you understand more about concussion.

Bookmark this page and please share it with loved ones, your healthcare providers, anyone who you feel may benefit. Concussions are nothing to mess around with and the more people are up-to-date on the recent findings, the more people get the help they need.

More information on treating concussion

Thrive is member of the Complete Concussion Management Inc.™ (CCMI) Partnership Program - a network of clinics around the world offering evidence-based concussion care.