Birmingham’s Concussion Rehabilitation Clinic

 

Birmingham’s First Dedicated Concussion Rehabilitation Clinic

Most people recover from a concussion within a few weeks.

Unfortunately, recovery isn’t always that straightforward.

For some individuals, symptoms persist long after the initial injury. Headaches, dizziness, brain fog, balance problems, fatigue, visual symptoms and difficulty concentrating can continue for weeks or even months, affecting work, sport and everyday life.

Many people are told to simply rest and wait for symptoms to improve. Whilst relative rest has an important role in the early stages, we now know that persistent concussion symptoms often require a more targeted rehabilitation approach. Modern concussion management has moved away from a one-size-fits-all model and towards identifying the specific systems contributing to an individual’s symptoms.

At Peak Health Physiotherapy, we are proud to be Birmingham’s first dedicated Concussion Rehabilitation Clinic, providing evidence-based assessment and treatment for people recovering from concussion and persistent concussion symptoms.

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Not Feeling Right Since Your Concussion?

You may benefit from a concussion assessment if you are experiencing:

• Ongoing headaches
• Dizziness or feeling off balance
• Brain fog
• Difficulty concentrating
• Visual disturbances
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Neck pain or stiffness
• Fatigue
• Symptoms that flare with exercise
• Anxiety about returning to sport or normal life
• Symptoms that have persisted for weeks or months

Many people begin to worry that something serious has been missed or that permanent damage has occurred.

The good news is that persistent symptoms often have identifiable causes and can improve with the right assessment and rehabilitation.

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Trusted by Athletes at Every Level

Concussion management is an area we have extensive experience with through our work in professional sport.

Our team has worked with athletes competing across professional football, rugby and other high-performance environments, helping manage both acute concussions and more complex cases involving prolonged recovery and persistent symptoms.

Working in elite sport requires a thorough understanding of current concussion guidelines, return to play protocols and the challenges athletes face when trying to return safely to training and competition.

Whilst not every concussion occurs on a sports field, the same principles apply. Whether you’re a professional athlete, recreational sportsperson or someone recovering from a concussion sustained at work, in a road traffic accident or following a fall, our focus is on identifying the factors driving your symptoms and providing a clear, evidence-based pathway back to full function.

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Why Are Some People Still Symptomatic Months Later?

One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding concussion is that it is a single injury with a single treatment.

In reality, concussion is highly individual.

Research has shown that people often present with different concussion phenotypes or symptom profiles. These different presentations can involve several systems within the body and often require different management approaches.

Two people may both have suffered a concussion, yet one person’s main issue may be dizziness and balance problems, whilst another may struggle with headaches, exercise intolerance or anxiety around returning to activity.

Understanding which systems are contributing to your symptoms is often the key to successful recovery.

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Different Types of Concussion Presentations

Vestibular Symptoms

The vestibular system helps control balance, movement and spatial awareness.

When affected, symptoms may include:

• Dizziness
• Vertigo
• Motion sensitivity
• Poor balance
• Feeling disoriented in busy environments
• Difficulty with head movements

Vestibular dysfunction is one of the most common causes of persistent symptoms and often responds very well to targeted vestibular rehabilitation.

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Neck Related Symptoms

The forces involved in a concussion commonly affect the neck as well as the brain.

Neck dysfunction can contribute to:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Visual disturbances
• Neck pain and stiffness
• Balance difficulties

Many people are surprised to learn that some of their ongoing symptoms may be coming from the neck rather than the brain itself.

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Autonomic Symptoms

Some individuals develop altered regulation of the autonomic nervous system following concussion.

Symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Exercise intolerance
• Increased heart rate responses
• Feeling unwell during physical activity
• Difficulty returning to exercise or sport

These symptoms often benefit from carefully prescribed and monitored aerobic exercise programmes.

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Psychological Factors

Persistent symptoms can understandably become frustrating and worrying.

Some people experience:

• Anxiety around symptoms
• Reduced confidence
• Fear of returning to sport
• Mood changes
• Stress associated with prolonged recovery

This does not mean symptoms are “all in the head”.

Psychological factors are recognised as an important part of concussion recovery and often exist alongside physical symptoms. Identifying these factors allows the right support and education to be provided.

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Our Approach

Rather than treating every concussion the same way, we aim to identify the specific factors contributing to your symptoms.

Your assessment may include:

• Detailed history taking
• Symptom tracking
• Vestibular assessment
• Balance testing
• Eye movement assessment
• Cervical spine assessment
• Exercise tolerance testing
• Return to sport or return to work planning

This allows us to build a rehabilitation programme based on your presentation rather than applying a generic protocol.

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Evidence-Based Concussion Rehabilitation

Depending on your assessment findings, treatment may include:

Vestibular Rehabilitation

Targeted exercises designed to improve:

• Dizziness
• Balance
• Motion sensitivity
• Visual stability

Cervical Spine Rehabilitation

Treatment focused on:

• Neck pain
• Headaches
• Cervicogenic dizziness
• Sensorimotor dysfunction

Graduated Exercise Therapy

Exercise is now recognised as an important component of concussion rehabilitation.

Rather than complete rest, carefully prescribed aerobic exercise can help improve exercise tolerance, reduce symptom burden and support recovery.

Symptom Monitoring

Recovery is rarely linear.

We closely track symptoms and progress throughout rehabilitation to ensure you are progressing at the right pace.

Lifestyle and Recovery Education

Sleep, stress, activity levels and overall health can all influence concussion symptoms.

Understanding these factors often helps people regain confidence and feel more in control of their recovery.

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Return to Sport

Returning to sport after concussion can feel daunting.

Many athletes worry about symptom recurrence, future injury or whether they are returning too early.

Our rehabilitation process follows the latest evidence-based return to sport guidelines, helping athletes progress safely and confidently back to training and competition.

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Access to Specialist Medical Care

Whilst many concussion cases can be successfully managed through rehabilitation, some individuals benefit from additional medical input.

We maintain close links with specialist concussion clinicians, sports medicine consultants and neurologists, ensuring that further investigation or specialist review can be arranged when required.

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Meet Your Concussion Specialist

Andrea

The service is led by Andrea, an experienced Physiotherapist with a specialist interest in concussion management and rehabilitation.

Andrea previously led the University of Birmingham Sport Concussion Clinic and has extensive experience assessing and treating both acute concussion and persistent concussion symptoms.

Alongside her work within the clinic, Andrea has significant experience working within elite sporting environments, supporting athletes through concussion assessment, rehabilitation and return to play. This combination of academic, clinical and sporting experience allows her to deliver evidence-based care informed by both the latest research and real-world practice.

Her clinical approach combines a detailed understanding of concussion phenotypes, vestibular rehabilitation, cervical spine dysfunction, autonomic exercise intolerance and the wider factors that influence recovery, helping patients receive treatment tailored to their specific presentation.

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You Don’t Have To Just Wait For It To Get Better

If you’ve suffered a concussion and still don’t feel back to normal, you don’t have to simply wait and hope symptoms improve.

With the right assessment and targeted rehabilitation, many persistent symptoms can be successfully addressed.

Whether your concussion happened during sport, at work, following a fall or after a road traffic accident, we’re here to help you understand your symptoms, regain confidence and safely return to the activities that matter most.

Book a concussion assessment today and start your recovery with Birmingham’s first dedicated Concussion Rehabilitation Clinic.