Plain language
What to expect in the weeks after a concussion
The three phases of recovery, the symptoms grouped by type, what helps during each phase, and the warning signs that mean you should be seen straight away.
The basics
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) caused by a bump, jolt or blow to the head or body that makes the brain shift or twist inside the skull, leading to temporary changes in brain function.
Common causes include falls, sports injuries, car accidents and whiplash — and notably, you do not have to hit your head directly, or lose consciousness, to sustain one.
Symptoms can be immediate or delayed. The most common are headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion, fatigue, mood shifts and blurred vision. Symptoms that emerge days later are still related to the injury.
Recovery
The three phases
Phase 1 — Acute symptomatic (0–3 days)
Relative rest, reduced screen and cognitive load, and close attention to red-flag symptoms.
Phase 2 — Gradual recovery (days to weeks)
Graded reintroduction of activity, guided by symptom response rather than a fixed calendar.
Phase 3 — Return to baseline (weeks to months)
Full return to work, study and sport. Symptoms persisting beyond this window may indicate persistent post-concussive syndrome and warrant assessment.
What to watch for
Symptoms grouped by type
Physical
Cognitive
Emotional
Sleep
Symptoms that are not going away?
We recommend testing anyone with symptoms. Same-day appointments are available across our clinic network.