04/08/2026
Headaches that don't seem to settle. Brain fog that makes it hard to think clearly. Dizziness, poor balance, or finding that screens suddenly feel overwhelming.
If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Many people experience these symptoms after a concussion, and while most recover well, some find that symptoms linger longer than expected. Often, that means there may be other factors contributing to your recovery than the concussion alone.
A concussion can occur in many different ways. It might happen during sport, after a fall, in a motor vehicle accident, or following a whiplash injury where your head never actually strikes anything.
Common symptoms include headaches, dizziness, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to light or noise, fatigue, feeling unsteady, and difficulty returning to normal work, study, exercise, or everyday activities.
For many people, these symptoms improve within a few weeks. For others, recovery takes longer, and understanding why can make a significant difference to the pathway forward.
Recovery Isn't Always as Simple as Waiting:
The biggest factor in you getting ongoing symptoms after a concussion can be whether or not you get treated early. Evidence clearly demonstrates that if you can get into your osteopath or other concussion healthcare professional and start treatment in the first few days after a concussion, you will likely recover faster.
One of the biggest misconceptions about concussion is that if you feel better, you have recovered.
While symptoms often improve over time, research shows they don't always reflect what's happening underneath. Some people feel better before the brain and body have fully recovered, while others continue experiencing symptoms long after they expected to be back to normal. This can be frustrating, particularly when you've been told everything should have settled by now.
This is where a thorough assessment becomes important.
Instead of assuming every concussion follows the same pattern, we look at the different systems that may be contributing to your symptoms. Identifying those contributing factors early allows us to build a more individualised recovery plan, rather than simply waiting to see whether things improve on their own.
One Commonly Overlooked Contributor: The Neck
When enough force is applied to cause a concussion, the neck will be exposed to those same forces.
That means that the muscles, joints, and connective tissues of your neck will be affected at the same time.
The challenge is that many of the symptoms overlap.
Headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, motion sensitivity and feeling unsteady can all arise from both the concussion itself and irritation within the neck.
This is why assessment matters.
Someone may be told their concussion has resolved, yet continue experiencing headaches, difficulty using screens, or ongoing dizziness because the mechanical contribution from the neck was never identified.
The goal isn't to assume every lingering symptom comes from the neck. It's to understand which contributing factors are present, so treatment can be directed where it's most needed.
What Recovery Can Look Like:
No two concussions are the same, so neither is the pathway to recovery.
One of the most important parts of concussion management is understanding which systems are contributing to your symptoms. While the concussion itself is important, it doesn’t always provide the full picture. For some people, ongoing symptoms are also being maintained by factors such as irritation through the neck, changes in movement patterns or reduced tolerance to activity. Identifying those contributing factors allows treatment and rehabilitation to be directed where they're likely to have the greatest impact.
That's why every assessment at Recharge is individualised. We take the time to understand how your injury happened, how your symptoms have changed over time, and what may be driving them now. Depending on what we find, treatment may include assessment and treatment of the cervical spine, gentle cranial and osteopathic techniques, whole-body assessment to identify mechanical drivers, graded exercise planning, and an individualised return-to-work, study or sport program.
We've seen this play out many times in practice.
One patient came to us after a motor vehicle accident where his head struck the airbag. He was experiencing headaches, difficulty concentrating, and a constant feeling of being dazed. By assessing both the concussion and the mechanical effects of the accident early, we were able to build a treatment plan that supported his recovery, and he returned to work within about a week.
Another patient sustained a concussion playing futsal. While her dizziness settled relatively quickly, headaches and difficulty concentrating continued for several months. During her assessment, we identified additional mechanical drivers through her neck and lower back that were contributing to her symptoms. As these were addressed alongside her concussion rehabilitation, her headaches reduced significantly, and she was able to return to work with greater confidence.
Two people. Similar injuries. Different contributing factors. Different treatments.
That's why we don't base treatment on a standard timeline. We base it on understanding what's contributing to your symptoms, so your recovery plan reflects your presentation rather than assumptions about how concussion "should" recover.
If You're Still Experiencing Symptoms:
Most people recover well after a concussion. But if headaches, dizziness, brain fog, light sensitivity, difficulty using screens, motion sensitivity, or neck pain are continuing to affect your daily life, it's worth understanding what else may be contributing.
At Recharge, we take the time to understand the whole picture. By identifying the underlying drivers of your symptoms, we can provide greater clarity about where your recovery is currently sitting and what the most appropriate next steps may be.
If you're experiencing ongoing concussion symptoms, book an assessment with our team to better understand your recovery and the pathway forward.
Book an appointment here: https://www.recharge.com.au/book-online
