A concussion — known medically as a mild traumatic brain injury, or mTBI — is a brain injury from a blow or a rapid whip of the head that briefly disrupts how the brain works. Symptoms come from several systems at once — balance, vision, the neck, and thinking — and current evidence supports active, guided recovery rather than long rest.
Active, Multi-System Concussion Recovery in Bozeman
A concussion is a brain injury — but its symptoms come from several systems the injury disrupts at once: balance, vision, the neck, and thinking. Recovery looks like targeted retraining of each one, not waiting for them all to sort themselves out. The “dark room and rest” approach has been replaced by current evidence supporting active, guided recovery — and the people who do best start active rehab earliest.
At Root Therapy and Wellness in Bozeman, we treat concussion with full 1-on-1 sessions, a whole-system assessment, and hands-on care every visit.
The Four Systems We Check
- Balance — inner-ear function, steady gaze, and motion sensitivity.
- Vision (oculomotor) — eye teaming, focusing, and tracking, which a concussion often throws off.
- Neck (cervical) — the upper-neck joints and muscles, almost always injured alongside the brain.
- Thinking & headache — brain fog and headache patterns matched to what’s driving them.
Most people with lingering symptoms have two or three of these driving their day-to-day. Treating all of them — at the right pace — is what produces recovery in people who’ve been told to “just wait it out.”
What to Expect at Your First Visit
- Comprehensive evaluation (60 minutes) — your history, a symptom review, and balance, vision, neck, and thinking checks.
- Diagnosis and plan — a clear read on which systems are involved and the order to address them.
- Hands-on treatment that same visit — neck care, balance and vision exercises, and your first guided activity plan.
- Home program — daily exercises matched to what you can tolerate now.
- Re-assessment every few visits, tracking your symptoms and progress over time.
Take the First Step
The evidence is now clear: earlier active rehab produces better outcomes than long rest. Request an appointment today — most patients are seen within the same week.
Our Treatment Approach
- Multi-System Concussion Assessment — We check the systems a concussion disrupts — balance, vision, the neck, and thinking and headache — to find what's actually driving your symptoms.
- Balance & Gaze Retraining — Gaze and balance work for dizziness, motion sensitivity, and unsteadiness.
- Vision (Oculomotor) Training — Retraining the eye-teaming and focusing skills that a concussion often throws off.
- Neck Care — Hands-on work for the upper-neck injury that almost always comes with a concussion and drives ongoing headache and dizziness.
- Gradual Return to Activity — A steady, symptom-guided build back to exercise, screens, work, and school.
- Calm, Nervous-System-Aware Care — Gentle care for the lingering brain fog, sensitivity, and stress that can follow a concussion.