A concussion is a brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head, neck or body. You do not have to lose consciousness. It can affect thinking, balance, sleep and how you feel.

If you suspect a concussion, stop the activity and arrange prompt assessment by a doctor or nurse practitioner. They can check for other injuries and give you a personal recovery plan. Rehabilitation appointments support this care; they do not replace the initial medical assessment.

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.

After this early period, gradually add safe physical and thinking activities. Plan breaks before you become overwhelmed. A small, short-lived increase in symptoms can happen; a large or lasting increase is a reason to stop, rest and make the next attempt easier.

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

A quieter break might be sitting comfortably, listening to calm music at low volume or a brief relaxation practice. Choose what feels restful to you; a break from screen work 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.

Start with something you want to get back to: making dinner, seeing a friend or managing a work task. Write down why it matters, what might get in the way and what help would make it easier.

Make the first version small enough to manage. Adjust the task, the setting or the time you spend on it. Build gradually with your clinician rather than following a fixed schedule.

Recovery can vary from day to day. A difficult day is information to discuss and use in your plan—not a sign that you have failed.

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.

Gentle movement, such as light walking in a safe setting, can begin during early recovery if tolerated. After 24–48 hours, build activity gradually with guidance from your clinician.

Choose activities with a low risk of falling, collision or another head injury. Exercise rehabilitation should fit your symptoms, health history and goals. A clinician can assess your response and set a personal plan.

Do not push through a large or prolonged symptom increase. Pause and adjust; seek advice if this keeps happening. This page does not set a target heart rate or exercise dose.

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.

Injury and changes to your routine can be stressful. Worry, frustration and low mood deserve support alongside your physical symptoms. Addressing them does not mean your symptoms are imagined.

Try a small activity you find calming: comfortable slow breathing, quiet music or time with someone you trust. Choose a setting and amount you can manage, and stop or change it if it makes you feel worse.

You can ask others to help with errands, meals or planning. If anxiety or low mood is making daily life difficult, tell your clinician so it can be included in your care.

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.