Concussion Physiotherapy in Hamilton and Ancaster

A new suspected concussion should be assessed by a physician or nurse practitioner first. That medical assessment rules out anything more serious and confirms the diagnosis.

From there you can book physiotherapy directly, no referral needed. We guide the recovery side: symptoms, exercise levels, the neck, the balance system, and the step by step return to your life.

Only very briefly. Current Canadian guidance recommends 24 to 48 hours of relative rest, which means cutting back rather than shutting down. After that, light activity such as walking helps recovery when symptoms allow it.

Long strict rest tends to slow recovery and feed anxiety. Gradual, guided activity is the current standard of care.

For most people symptoms improve within about four weeks. Children and teens often need a little longer than adults.

When symptoms stretch beyond that window, it usually means something specific is keeping them going, such as the neck, the vestibular system or activity levels that are off target. Those drivers are treatable.

Canadian guidance uses a stepwise return: brief relative rest, then daily activities, then light aerobic exercise, then sport specific drills, then non contact training, then full contact practice after medical clearance, then game play.

Each step needs at least 24 hours without a symptom flare. We coach you through the steps and pull back the load if symptoms push back.

Lingering dizziness usually points to the vestibular system or the neck rather than the brain injury itself. Both respond to targeted treatment.

We test both at your assessment. Vestibular exercises retrain the balance system, and hands on treatment settles the neck. Our vestibular physiotherapy page explains the balance side in detail.

Yes. When symptoms persist beyond the usual window, care focuses on the specific drivers: graded aerobic exercise below symptom threshold, vestibular rehabilitation, neck treatment and headache management.

Progress tends to come from steady, structured work rather than waiting it out.

Yes. Concussion after a collision is treated under Ontario's accident benefits, the same system that covers whiplash. We bill your auto insurer directly and handle the forms.

Concussion and whiplash often travel together after a crash, and we treat both. See our car accident physiotherapy page for how the coverage works.

Concussions from workplace falls or impacts can be covered through WSIB. We are a WSIB provider and handle the reporting. Our WSIB physiotherapy page walks through the process.

School comes before sport. Most students can return within a few days with short term supports such as reduced screen time, breaks and lighter homework loads.

We help families plan the steps and adjust them if symptoms flare, following current Canadian guidance.

Go to the emergency department for a worsening headache, repeated vomiting, a seizure, growing confusion or drowsiness, weakness or numbness, slurred speech, or unequal pupils. These need urgent medical care.

Physiotherapy starts after the medical side has cleared anything serious.

We guide the rehabilitation steps and coordinate with your physician, who provides the medical clearance required before full contact steps.

If you or your team need formal baseline testing, call us at 289-205-8255 and we will point you in the right direction.