A structured, assessment-driven path back to work, school, and sport - built around vestibular, oculomotor, and cervical rehabilitation, not just rest.
A mild traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head — or a hit elsewhere on the body that transmits force to the brain. It temporarily disrupts how brain cells communicate, which is why symptoms can affect balance, vision, concentration, mood, and sleep, not just cause a headache.
A concussion is a functional injury, not a structural one, so a CT scan or MRI is usually normal. These tools rule out more serious injuries like bleeding or fractures — they don’t diagnose a concussion. A normal scan doesn’t mean nothing is wrong; it means diagnosis is made clinically, from your symptoms and a physical assessment.
A concussion can affect the vestibular system (balance and inner ear), the visual and oculomotor system (eye movement), the cervical spine (neck), and cognitive function — in different combinations and severities. Two people with a similar injury can have very different symptoms and recovery timelines.
Guidelines support brief initial rest — a day or two at most — followed by early, symptom-limited activity rather than prolonged complete rest, which can slow recovery for some people. A proper assessment identifies which systems are involved, so your rehab plan and pace of return are built around your specific symptoms, not a one-size-fits-all rest protocol.
Seek emergency care immediately if you or someone else experiences: worsening headache, repeated vomiting, seizure, loss of consciousness, slurred speech, increasing confusion, weakness or numbness, or unusual drowsiness after a head injury. These can be signs of a more serious brain injury requiring urgent medical attention before a physiotherapy assessment is appropriate.
A concussion can disrupt balance, vision, concentration, and mood — often long after the initial injury. Our physiotherapists assess every system involved and build a plan that matches your specific symptoms, not a generic rest protocol.
Whether your concussion happened on the field, on the job, or in a motor vehicle collision, we coordinate care around your recovery timeline and any WSIB or insurance requirements.
Symptoms can appear immediately or develop over the following days. If you notice any of the below after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, an assessment is worth booking.
Persistent headaches after a concussion often stem from neck (cervical) dysfunction, vestibular issues, or general increased sensitivity to stimulation — not just the head injury itself.
Dizziness after a concussion is frequently linked to vestibular dysfunction — a disruption to the inner-ear and brain systems that control balance and spatial orientation.
Difficulty concentrating, processing information, and remembering details is common in the early stages and typically improves as the underlying systems driving it are identified and treated.
Sensitivity to light and sound is common in the early stages of recovery and should gradually improve with appropriate, graded exposure rather than complete avoidance.
Experiencing severe or worsening symptoms? Seek emergency care immediately before booking a physiotherapy assessment. For general questions about the process, see our FAQ page.
However the injury happened, our approach — and our billing — adapts to your circumstances.
Return-to-sport protocols aligned with school, league, or team requirements — so athletes return safely, not just quickly.
Concussion care coordinated alongside whiplash and MVA rehabilitation, with direct support for your claim documentation.
WSIB-aligned assessment and reporting to support your claim while keeping recovery and return-to-work on track.
Once any emergency red flags have been ruled out, it’s worth booking a concussion assessment if:
Your symptoms have lasted more than 24–48 hours, you’re experiencing ongoing dizziness or balance problems, headaches aren’t settling, you’re struggling to return to work or school at your normal pace, exercise or physical activity brings symptoms back, or you feel unsteady on your feet.
An early assessment doesn’t mean jumping back into full activity right away — it means understanding exactly which systems are involved so we can guide your pace of recovery safely, rather than guessing at how long to rest.
Headaches, dizziness, or fog that haven’t started settling after the first day or two.
Struggling to concentrate, tolerate screens, or keep up with your usual workload.
Feeling unsteady, or symptoms that flare up with physical activity.
At Apollo Physiotherapy, concussion rehabilitation includes vestibular, oculomotor, and cervical spine assessment because symptoms often involve more than the brain alone. Treatment is individualized based on your findings rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. A typical assessment covers:
A detailed look at how the injury happened, how your symptoms have evolved, and how they affect your daily activities.
Standing and dynamic balance tests to check whether your vestibular or postural control systems are contributing to your symptoms.
Testing how smoothly your eyes track and follow objects, since oculomotor dysfunction is a common driver of headaches and fatigue.
Checking how well your eyes stay stable while your head is moving — a key indicator of vestibular involvement.
Assessing neck mobility, strength, and sensitivity, since neck dysfunction frequently overlaps with — and can mimic — concussion symptoms.
Observing your gait and your tolerance to physical exertion to establish a safe starting point for your rehabilitation plan.
From these findings, we build a graded return-to-activity plan tailored to work, school, or sport — adjusted as your tolerance improves.
Dizziness and unsteadiness after a concussion often come from the vestibular system — the network of structures in the inner ear and brain that helps control balance, spatial orientation, and how your eyes stay stable when your head moves. When a concussion disrupts this system, it can cause dizziness, a feeling of being “foggy” or off-balance, and difficulty in busy visual environments like grocery stores or traffic.
Vestibular rehabilitation uses targeted exercises — gaze stabilization, habituation, and balance retraining — to help retrain how your brain processes signals from your eyes, inner ear, and body. Patients with vestibular-related dizziness, motion sensitivity, or balance problems after a concussion tend to benefit most.
Recovery timelines vary, but many patients notice steady improvement over several weeks of guided, progressive exercise, alongside the rest of their concussion rehabilitation plan.
A concussion can disrupt how the inner ear, eyes, and brain coordinate to keep you balanced and oriented.
Patients with dizziness, motion sensitivity, or balance problems following a head injury.
Gradual, progressive improvement over several weeks of targeted exercise, alongside your broader plan.
Returning to sport too quickly after a concussion carries real risk. Our return-to-sport process is graduated and symptom-guided, aligned with your team, school, or league’s protocol.
A step-by-step increase in physical exertion — from light aerobic activity to sport-specific drills to full-contact practice — with each stage only progressed once you’re symptom-free at the current level.
Close tracking of how you respond to each stage of activity, so we can adjust your pace if symptoms reappear rather than pushing through them.
Coordination with a physician for medical clearance where required by your school, league, or sport’s return-to-play policy.
Work demands vary widely, so your return-to-work plan is built around your specific role and its physical and cognitive demands.
Gradual increases in screen time and cognitive workload, with strategies to manage screen tolerance and mental fatigue throughout the day.
A graded return to physical exertion, balance demands, and safety-sensitive tasks, factoring in your current tolerance and any workplace hazards.
Assessment of visual, vestibular, and reaction-time factors relevant to driving safety before returning behind the wheel.
Practical pacing strategies — planned breaks, workload adjustments — to prevent symptom flare-ups as your tolerance builds.
A graded approach to computer and device use, since screens are a common symptom trigger during recovery.
Documentation and reporting aligned with your WSIB claim, so your recovery and your paperwork stay on the same page.
Returning to the classroom after a concussion is often gradual, especially for children and teens whose symptoms may flare with sustained concentration, screens, or a noisy classroom.
We help families put together a plan that reduces workload where needed, builds back up gradually, includes planned screen and rest breaks, and keeps communication open with teachers or school staff so accommodations can be adjusted as symptoms improve.
Starting with a lighter course load or partial days, building back up as tolerated.
Structured breaks to manage the cognitive load of a full school day.
Guidance you can share with teachers or school staff to support a smooth transition back.
Most concussion symptoms resolve within a few weeks, but some people continue to experience headaches, dizziness, brain fog, fatigue, or neck-related symptoms well beyond that window — sometimes referred to as persistent post-concussion symptoms or post-concussion syndrome.
If this describes your experience, rehabilitation can still help. A thorough reassessment often reveals a specific, treatable driver — whether that’s ongoing vestibular dysfunction, cervical spine involvement, or deconditioning from reduced activity — that a targeted, individualized neurological physiotherapy plan can address, even months after the original injury.
A thorough history and physical examination of your condition.
Evaluating how you move to identify the source of your symptoms.
Identifying what’s driving your pain or dysfunction.
A personalized plan built around your goals and diagnosis.
Manual therapy and other hands-on techniques as appropriate.
Progressive exercise to rebuild strength, mobility, and function.
A graded return to the activities and goals that matter to you.
At Apollo Physiotherapy, we prioritize your recovery and your convenience. Conveniently located on Highland Road West near St. Mary’s General Hospital (WRHN@Queen’s Blvd) in Kitchener, Apollo Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation serves patients from Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and surrounding communities.
Every session is delivered directly by your physiotherapist, start to finish — never split across patients or handed to an assistant.
Your program is built around your diagnosis and goals, and progressed as you improve — not a static, generic handout.
Manual therapy and joint mobilization used alongside active exercise — an approach that tends to produce more durable results.
Progressive, individually dosed exercise that rebuilds capacity, strength, and confidence over time.
We bill many major insurers directly where applicable, so you’re not covering the full cost upfront.
A calm, private treatment environment on Highland Rd W, with on-site parking and wheelchair-accessible entry.
Physiotherapy is covered by most extended health plans, and may also be available through WSIB or motor vehicle accident claims depending on your circumstances. Our team can help confirm your coverage before your first visit.
Most people benefit from an assessment within the first week, once any red-flag symptoms have been ruled out. Early, guided activity — rather than complete rest — is now understood to support faster recovery.
Your assessment includes:
In most cases, yes. We build a graded return-to-activity plan so you can stay engaged with work, school, or sport at a level your brain and body can currently tolerate, adjusting as you progress.
Yes. We regularly treat patients with symptoms lasting weeks or months past the initial injury, including dizziness, headaches, brain fog, and neck-related symptoms.
Concussion physiotherapy is covered by most extended health plans, WSIB workplace injury claims, and motor vehicle accident (MVA) claims. We offer direct billing and can help confirm your coverage before your first visit.
Yes — sleep is an important part of recovery, and normal sleep is encouraged. The older advice to wake someone every few hours through the night is no longer routinely recommended unless a physician has advised otherwise for the first night.
Not necessarily. Brief screen breaks in the first day or two can help, but prolonged, complete avoidance isn’t generally recommended. A more effective approach is gradually building your screen tolerance back up, which we can help guide.
Many people recover within a few weeks, though timelines vary based on the systems involved and how quickly you were assessed and started rehabilitation. Some people experience symptoms for longer — that doesn’t mean recovery has stalled for good, but it does mean a closer look at what’s driving your specific symptoms is worthwhile.
Often, yes. Many post-concussion headaches have a cervical (neck) or vestibular component that responds well to hands-on treatment and targeted exercise, once your assessment identifies what’s contributing to them.
A brief, mild return of symptoms with increased activity is common and expected as we push your tolerance forward. It usually means dialling that step back slightly rather than stopping altogether — your physiotherapist will help you tell the difference between expected flare-ups and a sign to slow down further.
Light, symptom-limited aerobic exercise is generally considered safe and beneficial once any emergency concerns have been ruled out, and is a standard part of modern concussion rehabilitation. Your physiotherapist will help determine an appropriate starting intensity and progress it as you recover.
This depends on your specific symptoms — particularly dizziness, visual disturbance, concentration, and reaction time — and should be discussed with your physician and physiotherapist rather than judged by time alone. We can help assess whether visual and vestibular factors relevant to driving safety have recovered.
Yes. Children and teens can be assessed and treated for concussion, with a plan adjusted for their age, school schedule, and activity level, and coordinated with parents and, where useful, the school.
Only if your assessment shows vestibular involvement — not everyone with a concussion needs it. If your symptoms include dizziness, imbalance, or difficulty in busy visual environments, vestibular rehabilitation is often included in your plan.
Still have a question? Reach out directly and our team will help.
Whether you’re recovering from a sports injury, concussion, neurological condition, workplace injury, or motor vehicle accident, we’re here to help. Book your assessment today.
Proudly serving Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, and nearby communities.