What Is a Concussion and Why Do Symptoms Linger?
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head that disrupts normal brain function. Most concussions resolve within a few weeks, but a significant number of people experience symptoms that persist well beyond the expected recovery window. This is known as post-concussion syndrome.
Persistent symptoms can include ongoing headaches, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, sleep disruption, and mood changes. These symptoms often remain because the physical structures affected by the impact, including the cranial bones, meninges, and surrounding connective tissue, have not fully returned to normal function. Standard symptom management approaches do not address these mechanical factors.
Osteopathic manual therapy offers a way to treat the structural patterns left by a concussion directly, rather than managing the symptoms that result from them.
Our Approach to Concussion Treatment at Action Physiotherapy
Paul McCrimmon, DOMP, holds a Bachelor of Kinesiology from McMaster University and is a graduate and faculty member of the Osteopathic College of Ontario, where he has taught Advanced Manual Techniques since 2011. His approach to concussion recovery is rooted in osteopathic principles: the body functions as a whole system, and the impact of a concussion affects that system far beyond the brain itself.
Paul works directly at the site of cranial impact using craniosacral therapy and osteopathic cranial techniques, assessing and addressing restrictions in the cranial bones, cranial sutures, and the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This level of specificity, working on the head rather than around it, distinguishes his approach from most rehabilitation programs, which focus primarily on rest, graded exertion, and vision therapy.
Where relevant, Paul also integrates polyvagal nerve work, recognizing that the autonomic nervous system is frequently dysregulated following a concussion and plays a role in the persistence of symptoms.
What to Expect at Your Concussion Assessment
Step 1: Detailed History and Cranial Assessment
Step 2: Targeted Osteopathic Treatment
Step 3: Progress Monitoring and Home Support
Symptoms Osteopathic Concussion Treatment Can Help With
Persistent Headaches and Migraines
Headaches following concussion often have a cranial mechanical component. Addressing restrictions in the cranial bones and sutures directly can reduce both frequency and intensity.
Cognitive Symptoms and Brain Fog
Difficulty concentrating, memory issues, and mental fatigue are among the most disruptive post-concussion symptoms. Restoring normal cerebrospinal fluid flow and cranial membrane tension can support cognitive recovery.
Dizziness, Balance, and Sensitivity
Vestibular symptoms and sensitivity to light and sound frequently have structural contributors in the cervical spine and cranial base that respond well to osteopathic treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most concussion rehabilitation programs focus on rest, graded return to activity, and vision or vestibular therapy. Paul's osteopathic approach addresses the physical structures of the head directly, using craniosacral and cranial techniques to restore normal mechanics at the site of impact. These approaches are not typically available in a standard physiotherapy or sports medicine setting.
Osteopathic treatment is appropriate both in the subacute phase (a few weeks post-injury) and for post-concussion syndrome that has persisted for months or years. Paul will assess your current presentation and advise on timing and approach.
Recovery timelines vary based on the severity of the injury and how long symptoms have persisted. Many patients with recent concussions see meaningful improvement within four to six sessions. Longer-standing post-concussion syndrome typically requires more treatment and a more gradual approach. Paul will outline an expected care plan at your first appointment.
No referral is needed. You can book directly at Action Physiotherapy in Brampton.
Yes, this is a common reason patients seek Paul's care. If standard rehabilitation, physiotherapy, or symptom management has not resolved your symptoms, the structural patterns left by the concussion may not have been addressed. Paul's cranial and craniosacral approach targets exactly this.
Book Your Concussion Assessment in Brampton
Action Physiotherapy is located at 332 Main St N in Brampton. Paul McCrimmon, DOMP, is accepting new patients for concussion recovery and post-concussion syndrome. We serve patients from Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon, and across Peel Region.
