In the ED Now

Closing the Gap: ED Concussion Care Needs Physical Therapy

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🎙️ Episode Overview

Guest: Dr. Becky Bliss, leading physical therapist specializing in concussion care
Host: Dr. Rebekah Griffith, the ED DPT

🧠 Key Themes & Insights
1. Concussion Care: The PT Perspective
  • Physical therapists are positioned to offer critical hands-on evaluations and personalized rehabilitation plans that often go beyond what’s provided in standard emergency or acute care settings.
  • Dr. Bliss emphasizes that PTs can detect subtle balance, coordination, and vestibular issues post-concussion that traditional medical assessments may overlook.
    • 2. Emergency Department Gaps
    • Trauma centers and ERs typically rely on symptom checklists and imaging to rule out severe injuries, but these tools often miss lingering functional deficits.
    • PT involvement early on can bridge this gap by addressing mobility and sensory symptoms before they develop into chronic problems.
      • 3. Rethinking Protocols
      • Current concussion protocols may need updating to integrate PT assessments sooner in the care continuum.
      • Dr. Bliss advocates for routine post-concussion screening by PTs within the first week to identify deficits and begin rehabilitation promptly.
        • 4. Evidence-Based Rehab Strategies
        • Vestibular rehabilitation exercises and graded aerobic conditioning are highlighted as effective approaches during the sub-acute phase.
        • Dr. Bliss walks through sample exercises that improve gaze stabilization, balance control, and exertion tolerance.
          • 5. Patient-Centered Communication
          • Educating patients on gradual return-to-activity plans and symptom tracking empowers them in their recovery.
          • Success stories shared in the episode illustrate how early PT intervention can reduce recovery time and improve outcomes.

            • Get in touch with Dr. Bliss

            www.blissfullyinbalance.com

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            @becky.bliss1012
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            In the ED NowBy Rebekah Griffith
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