Concussion Recovery is More Than Rest: Here’s What Actually Works

If you’ve been told to just “rest in a dark room” after a concussion… you’ve been given outdated advice.

Today’s evidence shows that concussion recovery is an active, structured process—not passive waiting. At Pain & Performance Coach LLC, we help athletes and active individuals recover from concussions using a multi-system approach that restores brain-body function, sharpens coordination, and rebuilds confidence.

Let’s walk through what science supports—and how we apply it right here in Hillsboro and Beaverton.

What Happens After a Concussion?

Concussions don’t just affect your head—they disrupt multiple systems:

• 🧠 Brain signaling and processing

• 👁️ Visual tracking and eye movement

• 🦶 Balance and vestibular control

• 💓 Heart rate regulation and physical tolerance

• 🧍‍♀️ Neck and postural stability

• 🤹‍♀️ Multi-tasking and attention

Ignoring these areas—or just waiting them out—can prolong symptoms like:

• Headaches

• Dizziness

• Brain fog

• Irritability

• Fatigue

• Difficulty focusing

What Research Says Works for Concussion Rehab

A growing body of evidence—including the BJSM review by Haider et al. (2017)—emphasizes that:

“Active rehabilitation approaches improve recovery outcomes when tailored to the individual’s profile.”

That means recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all. It requires targeted interventions based on symptoms, systems, and sport demands.

How We Approach Concussion Recovery at Pain & Performance Coach LLC

We don’t guess. We assess and adapt at every step. Our comprehensive approach includes:

Mindfulness Training

Concussions can affect emotional regulation and sleep. We use guided mindfulness and breathwork to:

• Reduce anxiety

• Support autonomic balance

• Improve sleep quality and brain recovery

Visual Tracking & Oculomotor Retraining

Blurry vision or dizziness when reading or scrolling? That’s your visual system struggling. We:

• Assess saccades, smooth pursuits, and convergence

• Use laser-guided drills, metronomes, and tracking exercises

• Reintegrate vision into balance and movement

Balance and Vestibular Training

Feeling unsteady? That’s your brain struggling to process motion. We target:

• Static and dynamic balance

• Head movement tolerance

• Visual-vestibular integration using unstable surfaces and varied stimuli

Neck Strengthening & Control

Neck dysfunction is a common but overlooked piece of post-concussion recovery. We:

• Assess cervical ROM and muscle endurance

• Retrain deep neck flexors and postural stability

• Use progressive resistance and head-controlled drills

Aerobic Conditioning

Research supports sub-symptom threshold cardio for speeding recovery. We use:

• Light-to-moderate cycling, walking, or SkiErg

• Heart rate zone training based on tolerance

• Gradual reintroduction to sport-specific conditioning

Multi-Task Reaction & Coordination Training

We layer cognitive + physical tasks to mimic real-life demands:

• Reaction drills with Blaze Pods

• Dual-task balance + memory challenges

• Change-of-direction tasks under pressure

This builds brain resilience, not just symptom tolerance.

Testing & Feedback: Objective + Subjective

We combine:

• 🔄 Patient-reported outcomes (fatigue, symptom scales, focus, etc.)

• 🧠 Tool-based feedback: reaction time, eye tracking, postural sway, balance metrics

This guides every decision—from pacing to return-to-sport clearance.

Your Local Concussion Rehab Experts

Whether you’re an athlete, student, or worker recovering from a concussion, Pain & Performance Coach LLC offers modern, active care built around the latest evidence.

We help clients from Hillsboro, Beaverton, Portland, Forest Grove, Cornelius, Banks, and North Plains get back to life—clear-headed, balanced, and confident.

What Makes Our Concussion Rehab Different?

📞 Call now to schedule a consultation or message us to ask if our approach fits your needs.