You don’t have to “tough it out” after a head injury. Whether it happened on the field, at work, or in daily life, concussions are serious even when symptoms seem mild. We believe concussion care should go beyond rest and it should be a guided recovery journey. Whether your symptoms are recent or have lingered for weeks or months, we’re here to help you regain control.
If you or a loved one has suffered from a concussion, don’t wait or hold off any longer on treatment. Early treatment makes all the difference. The sooner we can evaluate your symptoms, assess neurological function, and create a targeted recovery plan, the better your outcome will be. With a supportive, team-based approach, we’ll help you feel like yourself again—mentally, emotionally, and physically. Schedule a consultation today with one of our experts in sports medicine and concussion management at Hughes Health and take your first step toward relief!
About Concussions
& Anatomy That Contributes
A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) that occurs when a blow or jolt to the head, or even a sudden movement of the body, causes the brain to shake inside the skull. This impact can disrupt normal brain function, leading to a variety of symptoms like confusion, dizziness, headaches, memory loss, nausea, or sensitivity to light and sound.
Inside your skull, your brain is cushioned by cerebrospinal fluid. While this fluid helps absorb shock, it isn’t always enough to prevent injury. Concussions affect neurons and can cause chemical and cellular changes that temporarily impair communication within the brain. Though often considered “invisible,” the effects are very real and can be long-lasting without proper care.
Common Causes of Concussions
Understanding Why It Happens
Concussions don’t always come from dramatic hits. You don’t even have to lose consciousness to have one. Common causes include:
Sports Injuries: Contact sports like football, soccer, wrestling, and hockey are common sources of concussions.
Falls: A slip and fall at home, work, or while exercising can result in head trauma.
Motor Vehicle Accidents: Whiplash or direct head impacts during a crash can cause concussive forces.
Workplace Injuries: Head strikes or sudden jolts in physically demanding jobs can lead to concussions.
Blunt Trauma: Accidental hits to the head from objects, machinery, or collisions.
Common Conditions Related to Concussions
Because concussions affect brain function and the nervous system, they are often associated with or can lead to:
Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS): Ongoing symptoms like headaches, fatigue, or trouble concentrating lasting weeks or months.
Vestibular Dysfunction: Problems with balance, coordination, or dizziness after a concussion.
Cervicogenic Headaches: Neck injuries sustained at the same time as a concussion can refer pain to the head.
Visual Disturbances: Blurred vision, eye strain, and difficulty focusing can occur post-injury.
Emotional & Cognitive Changes: Mood swings, anxiety, irritability, or memory issues are common in recovery.
Treatments for Concussions
Find Relief Once & For All For Your Concussion, Headaches, & Pain in Westerville, OH
Before we are able to treat your concussion, headaches, and neck pain at Hughes Health, we must perform a detailed consultation and examination. We start with a one-on-one consultation where our doctors truly listen. We want to understand how your neck or back pain is affecting your life, whether it's keeping you from working, exercising, or simply enjoying time with family. This conversation helps us gather key details that point us toward the root cause of your pain.
In the examination, we assess your movement, muscles, ligaments, and joints using orthopedic and functional movement testing, typically used at the elite and professional athletic level. Pain is your body’s way of signaling that something isn’t working right. Our job is to find out why and help you understand. Once we pinpoint the cause, we create a personalized treatment plan to restore function and get you back to living pain-free without unnecessary medications or surgery.
PiezoWave Focused Shockwave Therapy: Break Through Stubborn Pain
For concussions with the associated neck and upper back pain, PiezoWave Shockwave Therapy uses focused and targeted sound waves to:
Break up scar tissue and adhesions
Increase blood flow for faster healing
Stimulate natural tissue repair without surgery or downtime
Deep Tissue Class IV Laser Therapy: Heal from the Inside Out
Our Class IV Deep Tissue Laser uses light therapy to reduce pain and inflammation at the cellular level. This advanced treatment:
Boosts your body’s natural healing process
Reduces pain and inflammation in just 5-10 minutes
Feels like a gentle, warming sensation with no discomfort
Spinal Decompression: Relieve Pressure, Restore Function
If you’re struggling with neck pain that's associated with a concussion, Spinal Decompression Therapy provides a gentle, sustained stretch to:
Reduce pressure on your spine and nerves
Guide discs back into proper position
Work alongside other regenerative care and corrective exercises to help you heal and prevent future injuries
Sports Chiropractic: More Than Just Adjustments
At Hughes Health, we believe true recovery goes beyond spinal adjustments and manipulation. While we are chiropractors, we don’t just focus on your joints. We take a whole-body approach through Sports Rehabilitation to target the muscles and tissues that support you and your joints. Your body is more than just bones and joints, and your care should reflect that too. By addressing movement, strength, and stability, we help you heal faster, stay active, and prevent future injuries so you can get back to doing what you love without limitations.
Soft Tissue Manual Therapy: Digging Deep
At Hughes Health, we specialize in a wide variety of techniques to address the soft tissue causes of the pain.
Dry Needling: This targets tight or dysfunctional muscles by inserting small acupuncture needles into specific muscles and their trigger points to release tension and promote muscle recovery.
Fire Cupping: Using heated cups to create a suction effect on the skin helps increase blood flow to relieve muscle tightness and reduce pain. This warming effect has been shown to be more effective than the dry suction counterpart.
Graston Technique: Using specialized tools, we gently break up adhesions in your muscles and tendons, improving mobility and encouraging proper tissue healing.
Myofascial Release: Active Release Technique (ART), also known as manual trigger point release, takes your muscles through dynamic movement to release tension and alleviate pain at its source.
Sport Rehab and Custom Exercises: Build Strength, Prevent Injury
Pain relief is just the first step. Staying pain-free while moving and grooving is the goal. Our Custom Therapeutic Exercise Programs help you:
Strengthen muscles and improve mobility
Fix imbalances that cause recurring pain
Get back to doing what you love with confidence
The Right Care, Every Time: Adaptable for You
At Hughes Health, your recovery comes first. While we specialize in non-invasive, non-surgical sports medicine and movement dysfunctions, we also know when you need more. If our exam reveals that additional care is necessary, we’ll connect you with our trusted network of physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and pain specialists. No guesswork, no wasted time! The right plan for the best results is a click away.
Your health is our priority. Let’s get you on the path to recovery today!
Why Choose
Hughes Health?
We take pride in providing evidence-based non-invasive approaches to healthcare. Our goal is to identify the root cause of your discomfort and pain to then provide effective and personalized treatment plans to help you achieve long-lasting results. If you're experiencing any of the conditions listed above, don't hesitate to contact us.