Banged your head?

World Head Injury Awareness Day 20 March 2020

South Africa has a high incidence of traumatic brain injuries – over 185,000 were reported in 2016 alone.

If your head suffers a fairly mild injury, in sport, in a vehicle accident, or from a simple slip and fall, it can cause symptoms you don’t expect.

• If you experience physical symptoms like headache, nausea or vomiting, drowsiness or fatigue, problems with your speech, dizziness or changes in sleep patterns, you may need medical attention.
• If you experience sensory symptoms like blurred vision, ringing in your ears, changes in taste or sensitivity to sunlight and other bright lights, or sounds, you may need medical attention.
• If you experience cognitive symptoms like irritability, mood swings, a feeling of tiring easily, depression, a feeling of being confused or dazed, or an inability to concentrate, you may need medical attention.

If your head suffers a hard impact, in sport, in a vehicle accident, or from a simple slip and fall, one that knocks you unconscious for minutes, hours or days, you will need rapid medical attention.

Physiotherapists are part of the medical team, helping to maintain your breathing and your physical function.

If your head suffers a hard impact, in sport, in a vehicle accident, or from a simple slip and fall, it may have long-term consequences.

You may need to relearn some functions, from walking to hand movements. Or you may have minor impacts that need tweaking. Your physiotherapist is an expert at restoring people to the best function possible.

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