MQ Health Neurology Clinic
- Suite 204, Level 2
- 2 Technology Place
- Macquarie University NSW 2109
- T: +61 (2) 9812 3720
- E: neurology@mqhealth.org.au
Offering exceptional care for concussion patients
Learn moreIntegrated health care produces better outcomes for patients
Find out whyWhether on or off the sporting field, concussion symptoms can range widely and affect a person’s ability to think, do, and enjoy life.
If you experience a concussion, it's important for your best recovery and wellbeing to receive support from medical staff who are experienced in concussion. Our specialist focus on treating and preventing both concussion and the more minor head impacts called sub-concussions.
Those with concussion and a history of repeated head trauma may experience:
A concussion is by definition a mild traumatic brain injury. It should never be dismissed or ignored.
It is important to see your doctor — and you may also consider specialist care by a neurologist, sports physician or neurosurgeon — to discuss your recovery and find ways to prevent or manage future concussions.
Those with a history of repeated concussion and sub-concussion may also wish to discuss a neurological plan and consider their risk of more persistent or permanent symptoms.
There are many ways to sustain a head injury. The brain can undergo forces that involve direct impact, twisting, stretching, rebound or vibration.
Those involved in contact and collision sports, falls, motor vehicle or pedestrian accidents, seizures, whiplash, assault, family or gender related violence, and the military, can all experience concussion.
Repeated head trauma in some people is thought to be associated with longer lasting symptoms, and a condition of abnormal brain protein accumulation called chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE.
Macquarie has a leading research program into the clinical and pathological spectrum of repeated head trauma.
Concussion symptoms may be subtle or delayed, and there is no single test that can diagnose concussion.
An experienced practitioner can assess symptoms and signs that may relate to concussion, migraine, post-concussion syndrome or other neurological conditions.
Your doctor may arrange the following tests:
Remember, "if in doubt, sit it out".
The treatment for concussion and repeated head injury includes prevention and avoidance of further head injury, early medical care, avoidance of driving, alcohol or other factors that can worsen concussion immediately after the event.
A graded recovery program incorporating physiotherapy at MQ Health, eye and balance exercises, treatment of depression or other mood disorders, and headache management is also recommended.
Patients with sustained symptoms post-concussion may undergo monitoring of their cognitive health and an individualised program of cognitive recovery.
Athletes in contact or collision sports such as all codes of football, equestrian, boxing, wrestling, basketball and ice-hockey may be at risk of both concussion and repeated head trauma.
Those with risk of falls such as older persons or the frail, in the military, farmers and livestock handlers, or those at risk of violence may sustain concussion.
Avoiding concussion can be socially challenging. It can be helpful to discuss options with your doctor for reducing time in your environment of risk, and seeking support.
Common questions by athletes may be the benefit of headgear, changes to tackling, rest and recovery, or simply whether they should return to the field at all.
MQ Health offers a dedicated Concussion Clinic, with research focus into neurophysiological markers of concussive brain injury, as well as the potential for long term effects of repeated head trauma and CTE.
We also perform leading research into concussion and repetitive head trauma — learn more about this research group.
Our research team includes: