The Role of Mindfulness in Concussion Rehabilitation

1. THE ROLE OF MINDFULNESS IN CONCUSSION REHABILITATION concussionspoteducation.com

2. WHAT IS MINDFULNESS ? Recovering from a concussion is a multifaceted journey, requiring not only physical but also mental and emotional healing. While traditional rehabilitation focuses on rest, gradual reintroduction to activities, and symptom management, mindfulness practices have emerged as a powerful complementary approach to support recovery.

3. UNDERSTANDING MINDFULNESS Mindfulness is the practice of bringing your attention to the present moment with a sense of openness and non-judgment. Involves techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, and mindful movement, all of which can help calm the mind and body. Beneficial for individuals recovering from a concussion, where mental clarity and emotional stability are often disrupted.

4. HOW MINDFULNESS BENEFITS CONCUSSION RECOVERY Reducing Stress & Anxiety Managing Pain & Discomfort Headaches and other Headaches and other physical discomforts are physical discomforts are common post-concussion common post-concussion symptoms. Mindfulness can symptoms. Mindfulness can help individuals shift their help individuals shift their focus away from the pain or focus away from the pain or perceive it with less perceive it with less intensity. intensity. Concussions often lead to Concussions often lead to heightened stress and anxiety, heightened stress and anxiety, especially when symptoms especially when symptoms persist. Mindfulness practices persist. Mindfulness practices have been shown to lower have been shown to lower levels of cortisol, the body’s levels of cortisol, the body’s stress hormone. stress hormone.

5. Improving Cognitive Function Enhancing Emotional Regulation Concussions can impair Concussions can impair cognitive abilities, such as cognitive abilities, such as memory, focus, and problem- memory, focus, and problem- solving. Mindfulness exercises, solving. Mindfulness exercises, particularly those focused on particularly those focused on attention training, can help attention training, can help strengthen neural pathways strengthen neural pathways involved in these functions. involved in these functions. Irritability, mood swings, and Irritability, mood swings, and feelings of frustration are feelings of frustration are common among individuals common among individuals recovering from a concussion. recovering from a concussion. Mindfulness fosters emotional Mindfulness fosters emotional awareness and resilience, awareness and resilience, helping individuals respond to helping individuals respond to their emotions in healthier ways. their emotions in healthier ways. STIGMASURROUNDING MENTALHEALTH

6. Promoting Better Sleep Sleep disturbances are a frequent Sleep disturbances are a frequent issue following a concussion. issue following a concussion. Mindfulness can improve sleep quality Mindfulness can improve sleep quality by calming the mind and preparing by calming the mind and preparing the body for rest. Practices such as the body for rest. Practices such as body scans or guided meditations body scans or guided meditations before bed can create a relaxing pre- before bed can create a relaxing pre- sleep routine, leading to more sleep routine, leading to more restorative rest. restorative rest.

7. INCORPORATING MINDFULNESS INTO REHABILITATION Start Small Use Guided Resources Combine with Physical Rehabilitation Consult Your Healthcare Provider

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