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Traumatic brain injury is a serious public health problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention a TBI is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. However, not every blow to the head will result in a TBI. The severity of a TBI may range from mild (a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to severe (an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury). In a report to Congress on mild traumatic brain injury in the United States, the majority of TBIs that occur each year are concussions or other forms of mild TBI.
Concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury, is a brief change in mental status or consciousness. It is a frequent injury among older adults, athletes at all competitive levels, and among our military personnel who sustain blast injuries. There are challenges in the recognition and diagnosis of individuals with mTBI or concussions. The management of a concussion involves a continuum of care, which includes prevention, detection, rehabilitation, and return to participation in activity. Physical therapists provide a unique contribution to the concussion care management team, particularly in the areas of balance and vestibular evaluation and rehabilitation.
These resources should prove valuable for physical therapists who provide care for individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury, such as wounded warriors who are returning home, and provide support for family members/caregivers who are caring for wounded warriors with TBI, athletes, children, or older adults.
- Evolution of Concussion Management
Anne Mucha, PT, DPT, MS, discusses evolving practices around concussion management and the role of physical therapy. - Neurology Section's Brain Injury Special Interest Group
For members interested in brain injury or who work with patient who have brain injury. - Sports-Related Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.
Concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), is a frequent injury among athletes at all competitive levels with an estimated 1.6 to 3.8 million sports-related TBIs annually. .2 CEUs
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Authors of a comparative effectiveness review, released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, report that the "body of evidence is not informative" regarding effectiveness or comparative effectiveness of multidisciplinary postacute rehabilitation for adults with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.
American Speech and Hearing Association Resources on Blast Injuries
Brain Injury Association of America
Defense and Veterans Head Injury Center
The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center provides a variety of resources to enhance TBI care for those whose deployment is often characterized by long periods of stress, multiple blast exposure, chronic pain, and separation from loved ones.
Injury Prevention and Control: Traumatic Brain Injury
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides resources to prevent TBI and help people better recognize, respond, and recover if a TBI occurs.
Mental Health Resources
The Department of Veterans Affairs has a collection of comprehensive resources covering mental health issues, including information on post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide prevention, depression, and more.
MilitaryOneSource.com
Resources for military members, spouses, and families.
National Resource Directory for Wounded, Ill and Injured Service Members
This site provides access to services and resources at the national, state, and local levels that support recovery, rehabilitation, and community reintegration.
Returning Service Members Resource
Provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, this is a website for returning active duty, National Guard, and reserve service members of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
The Center on Outcome Measurement in Brain Injury
Provides online resources for those needing detailed information and support related to outcome measures for brain injuries.
Evidence-Based Review of Moderate to Severe Acquired Brain Injury
A joint project involving researchers in London, Ottawa, and Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with a mandate to develop an evidence-based review of the literature for rehabilitation or rehabilitation-related interventions for acquired brain injury.
The Journey Home: Traumatic Brain Injury
This resource is specifically for military personnel with traumatic brain injury and includes information for patients, family members, and caregivers of wounded warriors.
VA Polytrauma System of Care
Provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, this is a website that includes information about TBI, definition and background, symptoms and screening, and recovery and rehabilitation.
Veterans Health Initiative Course on Traumatic Brain Injury
Click the above link for the independent study program on a range of TBI-specific topics that has been developed by the Veterans Health Administration in collaboration with the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center. This program is one in a series of Veterans Health Initiative programs published by the Department of Veterans Affairs Employee Education System and is made available to VA, Department of Defense, and other interested medical providers. You can find other independent study courses on http://www.publichealth.va.gov/vethealthinitiative/. These include post-traumatic stress disorder, wounded, spinal cord injury, and traumatic amputation.
Wounded Warrior Project
Offers various programs and services to serve warriors with every type of injury — from the physical to the invisible wounds of war.
Community-based Resources
Community-based resources vary greatly in each community. A wounded warrior's case manager should be able to assist in identifying local resources. Other common sources from which to seek assistance are the American Legion and local churches.