Concussion Physiotherapy in Calgary
Outdated advice says rest in a dark room. Current evidence says the opposite. We use early, structured, symptom-guided rehab to get you back to sport, school, and work.
Our concussion care is built on the current international consensus — not the dark-room rest advice of a decade ago. We assess your neck, balance, vision, and exercise tolerance to find what's actually driving your symptoms, then build your plan around it: aerobic exercise dosed safely below your symptom threshold, hands-on treatment for the neck injury that rides along with almost every concussion, and vestibular retraining for dizziness and visual strain. Whether your concussion happened last week or months ago, structured rehab changes the trajectory.
If you've had a concussion, you've probably been told to rest in a dark room until you feel better. That advice is now outdated — and it's one of the reasons people end up with symptoms that drag on for months. Current international consensus (Amsterdam, 2023) supports a brief 24–48 hour rest period followed by early, structured, symptom-guided activity. That's exactly what we deliver at our south Calgary clinic.
Why see a physiotherapist for a concussion?
Many lingering post-concussion symptoms aren't actually "brain symptoms." They come from the vestibular system (dizziness, motion sensitivity), the eyes (trouble tracking, reading intolerance), and the neck — which absorbs a whiplash-type force in almost every concussion. These respond to targeted rehabilitation, not waiting. The original randomized trial proving that combined neck-and-vestibular physiotherapy dramatically improves recovery was done right here in Calgary, at the University of Calgary — athletes who received it were almost four times more likely to be medically cleared within 8 weeks.
How we treat concussion at MSKrehab
A full multidomain assessment. We screen for red flags first, then evaluate your neck, vestibular and eye-movement function, balance, and exercise tolerance to identify which symptom clusters are driving your recovery — because "one concussion protocol" doesn't exist.
Sub-symptom aerobic exercise, properly dosed. Using the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test, we find your symptom-threshold heart rate and prescribe daily aerobic exercise just below it — the single strongest intervention in current concussion research, shown to speed recovery and roughly halve the risk of persistent symptoms.
Cervical spine treatment. Manual therapy and targeted exercise for the neck injury that almost always rides along with a concussion — and is routinely missed.
Vestibular and visual rehabilitation. Gaze stabilization, habituation drills, balance progressions, and eye-movement training, calibrated to your thresholds and progressed weekly.
Structured return to learn, work, and sport. Staged progressions coordinated with schools, employers, and coaches — because returning too fast causes setbacks, and staying away too long causes persistent symptoms. Pacing is the skill.
Concussion after a car accident?
Concussions from motor vehicle collisions are covered under Alberta's Section B insurance framework, and the whiplash component makes neck-focused treatment even more important. We handle the AB-1/AB-2 paperwork. Learn more on our Motor Vehicle Accident Physiotherapy page.
When to go to the ER instead
Physiotherapy is for the recovery phase. Seek emergency care first for: loss of consciousness over 30 seconds, repeated vomiting, a worsening severe headache, seizure, slurred speech or confusion, one-sided weakness or numbness, unequal pupils, or increasing drowsiness.
FAQ
How long does concussion recovery take? Most people recover in 2–4 weeks with appropriate management. Roughly 15–30% have symptoms past 3 months — and the strongest predictor of which group you land in is whether you get an early, structured plan or you're told to wait it out. If you're not clearly improving by 2–4 weeks, that's the time to escalate care, not wait longer.
Do I need a doctor's referral? No. Physiotherapists are primary care providers in Alberta. If your presentation needs medical input, we coordinate with your physician directly.
Is it safe to exercise with a concussion? Yes — it's the most evidence-supported treatment we have, provided it's dosed below your symptom threshold. That's what the treadmill test is for. Random unstructured exercise at the wrong intensity can set you back.
My concussion was months ago and I still have symptoms. Is it too late? No. Persistent post-concussion symptoms respond to targeted rehab — especially when untreated neck and vestibular contributors are found and addressed. Later is harder than earlier, but "too late" is rare.
Book a Concussion Assessment in South Calgary
We're at 8989 MacLeod Trail SW — serving Haysboro, Kingsland, Acadia, Fairview, and the broader south Calgary community. Your first visit is 45–60 minutes, one-on-one with an FCAMPT-certified physiotherapist: red-flag screening, neck and vestibular assessment, and where appropriate a Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test. You leave with daily activity targets and a plan back to school, work, or sport.
Want the deep dive? Read our full guide: Concussion Recovery in Calgary: What Actually Helps (and What Used to Be Standard Advice).
Contact Us
Location
8989 Macleod Trl SW Unit 407, Calgary, AB T2H 0M2
*Located on the 4th floor
Business Hours
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Closed
Closed
Contact
Phone. (403) 984-1445
Fax. (403) 984-1446
Email. info@mskrehab.org
Parking Information:
We are located a 10minute walk South or Heritage LRT station between Save-On Foods and Chick-fil-a. Entrance to the building is on the North side and elevators on the right side on the Lobby and we are on the 4 th floor down the hall on the left-hand side.