Concussion Clinic Saskatoon

Concussion Treatment in Saskatoon

Expert, Multidisciplinary Concussion Care at Axis Health Center

A concussion can disrupt your life in a moment, but with the right care, recovery is possible. At Axis Health Center, we offer specialized, patient-centered treatment for concussions and post-concussion syndrome in Saskatoon. Our integrated team of physiotherapists, chiropractors, and massage therapists works together to help you recover safely and return to your daily activities.

If you’ve experienced a concussion from a fall, vehicle accident, workplace incident, or sports activity, it’s critical to get assessed and begin care early. We’re here to guide your recovery with evidence-informed treatment plans tailored to your unique symptoms.

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) caused by a sudden impact or jolt to the head or body that causes the brain to move inside the skull. Even if you don’t hit your head and when there is no loss of consciousness, a concussion can disrupt brain function and affect your balance, coordination, memory, and emotions.

Many people don’t realize that symptoms may be delayed, subtle, or mistaken for fatigue or stress. That’s why prompt evaluation is essential—even if your injury seems minor at first.

Common Symptoms of a Concussion

Know the Signs and When to Act

Concussion symptoms can vary between individuals and may appear immediately or develop hours or days after the injury. Some of the most common symptoms include:

Headache or pressure in the head
Dizziness, balance problems, or lightheadedness
Blurred vision or sensitivity to light and sound
Fatigue and difficulty concentrating
Brain fog or slowed thinking
Mood swings, anxiety, or irritability
Nausea or vomiting
Sleep disturbance or insomnia

If you’re experiencing any of these signs after a head impact, seek care right away. Early treatment helps reduce the risk of long-term effects and supports a smoother recovery.

Why Early Treatment Matters

Delaying treatment after a concussion can lead to post-concussion syndrome, where symptoms persist for weeks or even months. Even mild concussions can disrupt your daily functioning, affecting your ability to work, study, or drive safely.

At Axis Health Center, we offer comprehensive assessments and treatment within days of your injury. The earlier we begin managing your symptoms, the better the outcome. Our focus is on reducing your discomfort, restoring normal function, and supporting your recovery every step of the way.

Multidisciplinary Concussion Care in Saskatoon

We believe concussion care is most effective when it’s integrated. That’s why we offer access to multiple licensed professionals in one convenient location.

Physiotherapy for Post-Concussion Recovery

Our physiotherapists are trained to assess and treat the physical effects of concussions, including balance deficits, vestibular dysfunction (dizziness), neck stiffness, and coordination issues. We use targeted exercises, manual therapy, and vestibular rehabilitation to help you regain your equilibrium and confidence.

Chiropractic Care for Cervical Strain and Headaches

Many concussion symptoms are worsened by neck injuries that occur during the impact. Our chiropractor will assess cervical spine alignment, mobility, and nerve involvement. Gentle adjustments and joint mobilization can relieve tension, reduce headaches, and improve neurological function.

Massage Therapy for Tension and Stress

Massage therapy complements concussion rehab by addressing muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and jaw. This can help reduce associated headaches and promote relaxation during a time of stress and overstimulation.

Exercise Therapy and Return-to-Work Planning

Once your symptoms stabilize, our team will guide you through graded exercise protocols to safely reintroduce movement and activity. Whether you’re a student, office worker, or athlete, we help you return to your daily routine at the right pace.

What to Expect During Your Concussion Assessment

When you arrive at Axis Health Center, we begin with a full assessment tailored to your injury and symptoms. This includes:

A detailed health history and injury timeline
Neurological screening
Balance and coordination testing
Cervical spine and postural assessment
Individualized treatment recommendations

If necessary, we may refer you for imaging or consult with your physician to ensure your care is comprehensive.

Your Personalized Concussion Treatment Plan

Every concussion is different. That’s why your recovery plan will be customized to your specific symptoms, goals, and lifestyle.

Your plan may include a combination of:

Vestibular and balance therapy
Manual therapy for neck pain
Cognitive rest and activity pacing
Visual-motor retraining
Headache and migraine management
Support for anxiety or sleep disruption
Return-to-work or school planning

We regularly monitor your progress and adjust the plan as your brain heals and symptoms improve.

Who We Help

At Axis Health Center, we treat individuals from all walks of life who’ve sustained concussions, including:

Drivers and passengers in SGI-covered auto accidents
Workers injured on the job (WCB injury claims)
Athletes recovering from contact sports injuries
Seniors who’ve experienced falls
Children and teens with sports or playground injuries

We also work closely with local physicians, coaches, and employers to ensure coordinated care and safe return to activity.

Why Choose Axis Health for Concussion Rehab?

We’re proud to be one of Saskatoon’s trusted clinics for post-concussion rehabilitation. Patients choose Axis Health Center because:

We offer early intervention with same-week appointments
Our multidisciplinary team works together in one location
We understand SGI and WCB processes and handle direct billing
We tailor care plans to the individual—not just the injury
Our clinic emphasizes education, safety, and patient support

Your recovery is our top priority. Whether your symptoms are mild or persistent, we’ll walk with you through each stage of healing.

What Are Concussion Symptoms?

Concussion are serious injuries for children, teenagers, and adults.

People often assume that the degree of injury is directly related to what the injury looks like and how “bad it looks.” However, looks are often misleading which is the case with concussions. Those injuries that look minor can have bug effects in the brain with lasting concussion symptoms.

Of course, a broken bone or a torn ligament is going to create a scene, but this isn’t the best way to judge an injury. When an athlete blows out their knee it is easy to view and see, along with the pain on the player’s face confirming what everyone else is already thinking: that injury is real, that injury is painful, that person is going to need serious medical treatment.

Sports concussions are described as a “mild” traumatic brain injury (mTBI) because concussions are not usually life threatening. However, concussions are still a brain injury and can lead to serious long-term consequences if not managed correctly by a qualified healthcare professional.

Head injuries are not typically as visible as other injuries (fractures). When someone hits their head on TV, they may become unconscious for a moment or they may be able to stand up right away. They might look dazed or need a minute to regain their ability to think straight, but then they can walk off the field just fine. The injury doesn’t look as serious. And too often it isn’t treated seriously.

A broken bone may be visible, but a concussion is in many ways far more serious of a problem. A brain injury requires immediate and ongoing care to ensure that the brain can regain optimal functionality. On television, injuries that turn out to be “just a concussion” are often anti-climactic events that the audience is led to believe will be over in days, if not hours. In real life, however, these traumatic brain injuries — which usually stem from a fall, severe shaking, a car accident or a direct blow to the head — can severely impact a person’s quality of life for several months.

A cold is typically more obvious than a chronic disease, but that doesn’t make the chronic disease any less difficult to deal with. In fact, the chronic disease is typically significantly more serious and complicated than the typical cold. Similarly, concussions are not something that can be overlooked. Following brain injury, whether as a result of a sport incident, a car accident, trip and fall, or other event, concussion therapy is absolutely necessary to ensure that there is no lasting damage following the trauma.

Concussions Often Cause Whiplash

Whiplash Leads To Muscle Tension, Joint Compression, And Nerve Problems

Concussions and whiplash are closely related injuries, often occurring together, particularly in cases of car accidents, sports collisions, or falls. A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a sudden blow or jolt to the head, which can result in the brain moving rapidly inside the skull. This sudden movement not only affects the brain but can also cause significant strain to the neck, leading to whiplash.

Whiplash happens when the neck experiences a rapid back-and-forth motion, stretching and straining the soft tissues, ligaments, and muscles. Since concussions usually involve a violent impact or jerking motion, it’s common for the neck to experience trauma simultaneously. The symptoms of whiplash, such as neck stiffness, pain, headaches, and dizziness, can overlap with those of a concussion, making it challenging to identify and treat each condition separately.

If left untreated, the combination of concussion and whiplash can lead to prolonged discomfort, chronic pain, and mobility issues. Addressing both injuries through physical therapy, rest, and sometimes chiropractic care is crucial for a full recovery. Proper care can help relieve neck pain, reduce inflammation, and prevent long-term complications from these interconnected injuries.

Read our blog post about Chiropractic Treatment For Whiplash

What To Do After A Concussion

Our doctors are specially trained in successful concussion treatment

The severity of a traumatic brain injury can vary dramatically. While some concussions are can be minor, and may not require long-term intervention, other brain injuries can have lifelong consequences.

In the immediate hours and days following a traumatic brain injury, the best treatment option is to rest and remain hydrated. Resting your brain means really turning off everything (especially all screens) that will stimulate your mind and to simply relax. This means avoiding television, not reading, avoiding intense music, conversation and too much movement. This may not sound like a very entertaining time, but this is what your brain needs to recover. Just like you’d put your feet up for a day or two after injuring your ankle, you need to give your brain time to rest and recover after being injured.

During this time, it isn’t likely that you’ll be referred to concussion therapy. The important thing is to check in with your healthcare provider for treatment and to have your brain injury assessed, and then to follow post-concussion protocols to give your brain a chance to rehabilitate. During this time, rest is absolutely the best way to cope with the uncomfortable symptoms that happen with a concussion, which include vomiting, confusion, weakness and headaches.

After several days, once the initial intensity of symptoms of a brain injury have reduced then starting treatment with chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy, or acupuncture is recommended. Seeking out concussion therapy early on can prevent long-term issues and help you experience a quicker return to health.

Chiropractic and Acupuncture Help Concussion Symptoms Including:

Left untreated, concussions can even inhibit growth in young children, and bring on early dementia for older patients. Fortunately, the therapy field is continually discovering new ways to help patients suffering from long-term concussion complications. If you believe you have suffered a concussion, please contact Axis Health Center in Saskatoon so we can do a thorough exam and get you on a recovery plan.