Concussions can cause temporary or more long-term symptoms that vary in type, number, frequency, and severity. Common post-concussion symptoms include cognitive difficulties, sleep disruption, irritability, 
headache, noise/light sensitivity, dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and balance problems. These symptoms may be mild and inconsequential. Or they may be significant enough to present challenges with every day life activities and interpersonal relationships. They can also impact return to school, work, and recreation. There is no “magic bullet” treatment for these complaints. However, a thorough clinical evaluation and problem-focused therapies can improve outcomes for these patients. When symptoms remain constant, patients and their significant others/family members may experience anxiety, depression, hopelessness, and frustration. Lifestyle management is a meaningful rehabilitation intervention that can significantly assist in improving function and quality of life for individuals with ongoing post-concussion symptoms.
What is Lifestyle Management?
Lifestyle management is a treatment approach that uses changes in habits and routines to manage chronic challenges and promotes overall health and wellness. It involves an analysis of both a person and their environment to identify any supports or obstacles to making lifestyle changes. A plan of action for successful change: 1) Draws on strengths (for example: a high level of motivation) and 2) Compensates for obstacles (for example: strategies to compensate for memory loss). Lifestyle management also acknowledges that change is hard, and habits take time to develop. It recognizes that a person will likely experience lapses but doesn’t allow these to be viewed as failures. Instead, the process of analyzing and creating a plan starts again!
Coaching for Post-Concussion Lifestyle Management
The beauty of lifestyle management is that it is a collaborative approach between you and your healthcare provider. Rather than an unequal relationship where your provider tells you what to do, you and your provider partner together to identify and achieve your goals. A good lifestyle coach asks many questions to guide your self-discovery process. Along the way, you and your coach should identify:
- Goals—what you want to achieve (for example: relief from pain and better sleep)
- Motivation—your level of motivation to make the necessary changes for achieving your goals
- Supports—your strengths or social and environmental support systems
- Obstacles—potential barriers to reaching your goals
Lifestyle Management and Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms
Post-Concussion Symptom to be Managed
For someone dealing with post-concussion symptoms, lifestyle management can look like:
- Creating a sleep hygiene routine
- Making a stress management plan
- Identifying headache triggers and modifying activities or the environment to avoid them
- Forming plans and routines that help build time management skills
- …and much more
Providers of Lifestyle Management for Post-Concussion Symptoms
Any member of the healthcare team who has at least a Master’s degree can become certified through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Occupational therapists are trained to analyze and modify both activities and environments to help people live fulfilling lives. Some choose to earn additional certification(s) in lifestyle management strategies through the USC Lifestyle Redesign® program. Your occupational therapist can collaborate with you and your medical team to coach you through the lifestyle management process for post-concussion symptoms.
Conclusion
Post-concussion symptoms can persist for months or years following an injury and can significantly impact a person’s quality of life and ability to do the things that are important to them. Sometimes there are no medication-based treatments or treatments have been tried with little or no success. Lifestyle management can be an effective method for managing these symptoms and returning to the life that you want to live. For more information about interdisciplinary post-concussion management, including lifestyle-based occupational therapy services, visit our website: Concussion Care Centre of Virginia.
