A concussion is a brain injury from a blow or jolt to the head, neck or body. You can have one without losing consciousness.

Suspect a concussion? Stop and see a doctor or nurse practitioner promptly. Rehabilitation supports this medical assessment; it does not replace it.

Ask someone you trust to stay with you initially and follow the monitoring instructions you receive. Symptoms may appear later. Do not return to sport on the day of a suspected concussion.

For the first 24–48 hours, use relative rest: ease back on demanding tasks, reduce screen use and keep simple daily activities as tolerated. You do not need to spend the day in a dark room.

Then add safe movement and thinking tasks gradually. Use the activity progression guide to judge symptoms and plan breaks.

If symptoms keep worsening or do not settle with an adjustment, contact your clinician. New emergency warning signs need urgent help.

Take a quiet break that feels restful. It does not have to mean doing nothing.

Your symptoms are real. Concussion, neck injury, balance or vision problems, sleep, mood and fatigue can interact. An assessment helps identify what needs attention; symptoms alone cannot tell you the cause.

• Headaches and neck symptoms: tell your clinician about the pattern and any medicines you use. Neck assessment may help guide treatment. Ask before changing pain medicines; frequent use can contribute to headaches.
• Dizziness, balance and vision: describe what brings them on. Assessment can guide vestibular rehabilitation or referral for eye care. Avoid self-prescribing balance or eye exercises.
• Sleep: aim for regular sleep and wake times. Ongoing insomnia, heavy snoring or marked daytime sleepiness deserves assessment.
• Mood: anxiety, irritability or low mood can occur after injury. Psychological support can help with coping and recovery.

Arrange follow-up with your primary care provider within 1–2 weeks of injury, or sooner if symptoms worsen. If symptoms are not improving, ask about targeted rehabilitation. You do not need to wait a month to ask for help.

Symptoms lasting beyond four weeks deserve a fuller review. Your clinician can look at headaches, neck function, balance, vision, sleep, mood and the demands of your day, then arrange appropriate referrals.

Ask who is coordinating care, what you are working towards and when you will review the plan. If treatment is not helping, the plan should be reassessed. Recovery varies; a difficult day does not define the whole process.

Choose a goal: making dinner, seeing a friend or completing a work task. Note what help you need.

Start with a manageable version. Adjust the task, setting or time, then build with your clinician.

A difficult day is a reason to adjust your plan, not a failure.

A gradual return to work or adult study can be part of recovery. You may need shorter days, fewer tasks, extra time or a quieter space. Agree on temporary adjustments and a review date with your clinician and workplace or education team.

After the first 48 hours, reintroduce screens in manageable amounts. Try larger text, fewer open tabs and breaks away from the screen. Adjust the workload to how you respond.

Do not drive while dizziness, vision changes, slowed thinking or fatigue make it unsafe. Ask your doctor or nurse practitioner about driving, machinery, heights and other safety-sensitive duties.

Choose a safe aerobic activity: a level walk or stationary bike may suit some people. Your clinician can help choose an option if balance, dizziness, neck pain or other health conditions affect exercise.

Start with a short, easy amount you can tolerate. Check it against the mild-and-brief symptom guide. You do not need to provoke symptoms for exercise to count.

Build one variable: extend time in small steps before adding more pace, hills or resistance. Avoid increasing duration and effort together. Your clinician may use exercise testing to set a personal heart-rate range and adjust it as you improve; this page does not prescribe one.

Review the whole day: exercise, screens, work and poor sleep can affect what you tolerate. Progress when the current load is manageable, rather than following a fixed weekly percentage. Repeated setbacks are a reason to review the plan, not abandon movement.

Sleep: try a regular wake time and a quiet wind-down routine. Keep your sleep space comfortable. Tell your clinician about ongoing insomnia, heavy snoring or marked daytime sleepiness; these can need specific treatment.

Food and fluids: aim for regular meals, a varied diet and enough to drink. Simple meals and help with shopping can make this easier when you are tired.

There is not enough evidence to recommend a particular supplement or special diet as a concussion treatment. Discuss supplements and major dietary changes with your healthcare provider, especially if you take medicines.

Worry, frustration and low mood deserve care too. Your symptoms are real.

Try slow breathing, quiet music or time with someone you trust. Adjust or stop if you feel worse.

Ask for help with everyday tasks. Tell your clinician if anxiety or low mood affects daily life.

Managing everyday tasks does not mean you are ready for contact sport. Follow a sport-specific, supervised return-to-sport plan.

Under the Canadian guideline, each sport step takes at least 24 hours and may take longer. A doctor or nurse practitioner must provide medical clearance before step 4 (non-contact training drills), and before any earlier activity with a risk of head impact, collision or falling. Return to usual learning should be complete first, if applicable.

Later stages require resolution of concussion symptoms and relevant clinical findings, including with exertion. If symptoms return after clearance, stop and seek reassessment before resuming those stages. This page cannot clear you for sport.