Concussion Management Program Available at Genesis
Zanesville, OH (Dec. 11, 2014) – Genesis Rehabilitation Services offers a concussion management program for student athletes in the community. The program evaluates student athletes ages 10 and older to help determine when it’s safe to return to play after suffering a concussion.
“We provide a concussion management program closer to home so students and parents don’t have to travel to a large metropolitan area for care,” said Keela Barker, director, Genesis Neuroscience Services. Physical therapists at Genesis Rehabilitation Services are specially trained to assess concussions using a standardized test to evaluate signs and symptoms, balance, coordination and memory.
A concussion is a brain injury caused by jolts or blows to the head and can result in brain damage or death if not recognized and managed properly. Physical or mental exertion before the brain has fully recovered can prolong recovery and worsen the concussion.
The physical therapists coordinate rehabilitation with the student’s referring physician and the school’s athletic trainer to provide feedback and make recommendations based on concussion guidelines. The therapists monitor the athlete’s progress through each stage of a Return-to-Play program. After each stage, the students are retested and cannot progress to the next step if concussion symptoms resume.
For more information on the concussion management program, call the Genesis Center for Occupational & Outpatient Rehabilitation (COOR) at (740) 455-5153.
