Concussion & Pain Release with Mia Lockhart

06/16/2026

Research shows that early, symptom-limited aerobic exercise can help many people recover faster after a concussion.

The key is doing the RIGHT amount.

✅ Rest for the first 48–72 hours

✅ Begin light aerobic exercise around Day 3–4 (if medically cleared)

✅ Keep exercise below the level that causes a significant symptom flare

This isn’t fitness training.

It’s nervous system rehabilitation.

The goal is to help your brain relearn how to tolerate increased heart rate, blood flow, movement, and stimulation without triggering a major symptom response.

A simple starting guideline:

• Calculate estimated max heart rate: 220 − your age

• Start at 50–60% of your max heart rate

• Exercise for 15–20 minutes

• Stay below a symptom increase of 2 points

• Symptoms should return to baseline within 60 minutes

If symptoms spike too much, don’t push through.

Slow down, recover, and try again at a lower intensity.

Many people find a recumbent bike is the easiest place to start because it minimizes head movement, visual motion, and balance challenges.

Track:
✔️ Symptoms before exercise
✔️ Symptoms during exercise
✔️ Recovery time afterward

The goal isn’t getting fitter.

The goal is helping your brain feel safe being active again.

Always work with a qualified healthcare professional if you’re unsure whether exercise is appropriate for your stage of recovery.

Have you been told to rest completely after a concussion? Let me know in the comments.

06/16/2026

Your brain has a built-in circuit (loop 🔂)breaker. It is the system that lets you finish a thought, move on from a worry, or shift your attention when you are ready to.

After a concussion, that circuit/loop 🔂 breaker can get sluggish.

So instead of a thought completing and resolving, it just keeps cycling. The same worry. The same sentence you cannot retain. The same sensation you cannot stop noticing. Not because it matters more than anything else, but because the part of your brain that would normally say “okay, we are done here” is still healing.
This is what many of my patients call being “stuck in a loop.” And it is one of the most exhausting and least talked about parts of prolonged concussion recovery.
It is not anxiety. It is not catastrophizing. It is not weakness.
It is a brain that is working hard with a tool that is temporarily out of service.
If this is your experience right now, I want you to know it has a name, it has an explanation, and it responds to the right support.
You are not stuck forever. Your brain is just in repair mode.
Early sub-threshold aerobic exercise can speed recovery when done correctly. See my post on Sub-Threshold Aerobic Training for post concussion.

06/11/2026

CTE has become one of the most talked-about brain conditions in sports and concussion recovery. But the reality is more nuanced than most headlines suggest.

What researchers know:
• Repeated head impacts increase risk
• Not everyone exposed develops CTE
• CTE currently cannot be definitively diagnosed during life
• Scientists are getting closer with blood tests and brain imaging
• Protecting your brain now still matters

The most important takeaway?

This isn’t about fear.

It’s about respecting your brain, reducing unnecessary impacts, and taking symptoms seriously when they show up.

Brain health is a lifelong journey.

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06/11/2026

Maybe you need a hat like this? I’m making some for my clients…
People see you walking, talking, smiling, working, parenting, and assume you’re better. They don’t see the headaches, the overwhelm, the exhaustion after a simple conversation, the dizziness in a busy store, or the effort it takes just to get through the day.

Invisible injuries can feel incredibly lonely.

If you’re in this process, remember:

✨ Trust yourself.
You live in your brain and body every day. Don’t let someone else’s opinion make you question your experience.

✨ Spend time with people who believe and support you.
The right people won’t make you prove your symptoms. They’ll listen, understand, and help carry the load.

✨ Get good care and find your community.
Recovery is often faster when you have the right guidance and support. Connect with professionals who understand concussion recovery and find others who are walking the same path. Communities like the


Keep going. Recovery is happening, even when others can’t see it. 🧠💛

06/10/2026

Curious about Brain Zone Training? Comment ‘BRAIN’ for more details!
Check out Neurofeedback Brain Training at www.mialockhart.com

06/09/2026

Perimenopause + a Concussion is what I call a double-whammy 😫- so tough. What symptoms do you have that nobody understands or is treating?

Growth hormone deficiency is the most commonly reported post-concussion hormonal change, followed by issues with cortisol regulation, thyroid function, and reproductive hormones (testosterone or estrogen/progesterone). This is sometimes called post-traumatic hypopituitarism (PTHP) and is probably under-diagnosed because symptoms like fatigue, mood changes, and cognitive fog overlap with standard post-concussion symptoms.

06/02/2026

What is Matrix Repatterning? Short Answer: a gentle therapy that looks for the hidden effects of past injuries and impacts that may be creating strain throughout the body, then works to restore balance and improve function.

🤓Long Answer:
Matrix Repatterning is a hands-on therapy approach that looks for old injuries and impact traumas that may still be affecting the body, even long after the original event occurred.

The theory behind Matrix Repatterning is that when the body experiences a significant impact, such as a fall, accident, sports injury, or concussion, the affected tissues can change shape and create strain patterns throughout the body. These strain patterns may alter joint mechanics, muscle tension, posture, movement, and nervous system function.

Because the body is interconnected, symptoms often appear far away from the original injury site. For example, an old ankle injury could contribute to hip, back, neck, or headache symptoms years later.

Practitioners use movement assessments, range of motion testing, muscle testing, and other objective measures to identify areas that may be contributing to these strain patterns. Matrix Repatterning also proposes that injured tissues develop a unique "bioelectric signature" that can help locate the source of dysfunction.

Treatment is very gentle and is designed to help the body release these stored strain patterns and return toward a more balanced state. The goal is to improve alignment, reduce tension, restore movement, and support the body's natural healing processes.

Matrix Repatterning is commonly used for:

Concussions and post-concussion symptoms
Chronic pain
Sports injuries
Whiplash and motor vehicle accidents
Headaches and migraines
Joint and muscle problems
Postural imbalances
Repetitive strain injuries

The approach also suggests that impacts can affect fluid-filled structures and organs within the body, potentially contributing to broader patterns of dysfunction. By identifying and addressing these areas, practitioners aim to improve overall body function and reduce symptoms.

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05/30/2026

Current Services I offer at 👉www.mialockhart.com

05/30/2026

Need to book an appointment for Concussion Care or Matrix Repatterning Pain Release?
👉mialockhart.janeapp.com

05/29/2026

What we know now is that the brain heals best when you create the right environment for recovery. Not too much. Not too little. Think of it like an ankle sprain. Complete rest isn’t the answer, but pushing through pain isn’t either.

My concussion recovery checklist:

✅ First 48 hours
Monitor your symptoms. Seek emergency care if symptoms worsen or vital signs are affected. Keep activity calm and gentle.

✅ Get assessed early
Book with a doctor, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, or concussion professional. Get documentation for work, school, insurance, and accommodations if needed.

✅ Reduce inflammation
Lower sugar. Reduce alcohol. Consider a lower-carb or ketogenic approach if appropriate. Focus on whole foods and protein.

✅ Reduce screen exposure
Especially early on. Blue light glasses can help some people manage symptoms while healing.

✅ Move, but don’t push
Sub-threshold exercise is one of the most important tools we have. Walking or biking just below symptom level helps improve circulation and supports recovery.

✅ Support your brain
Omega-3s, fish, hydration, quality sleep, and creatine (if appropriate for you) may help support brain healing.

✅ Visual symptoms?
Don’t ignore them. Prism lenses and vision therapy can be game changers for the right person.

✅ Release the impact
Concussions affect more than just the brain. I use Matrix Repatterning to help release the effects of impact injuries from the body and nervous system.

A few things I tell almost every concussion client:

• Don’t push through symptoms.
• Don’t stop moving completely.
• Circulation is healing.
• Recovery is not linear.
• The first 21 days matter.
• Most healthy people recover fully.
• Your brain knows how to heal.

Your job is to give it the conditions it needs to do so.

Questions? Drop them below. 👇