“The team considered all my personal and work needs when designing my treatment.”
Thomas Falk is an experienced skater; he’s played hockey for 25 years. So the 35-year-old police officer and Hillsborough resident wasn’t expecting to get hurt last February when he and his brother took his two sons to the ice rink.
But as he began to demonstrate a stopping maneuver, Falk’s skates touched. He lost his balance, slamming headfirst into the board at the side of the rink. He awoke a few seconds later, shaking and confused — so his brother tells him. “The first thing I remember clearly was being loaded into the ambulance,” Falk says.
Days later, he learned he had suffered a concussion. Fatigue, headaches,
balance problems and other lingering effects of the brain injury kept
him off the job for two months. But thanks to the care he received during
that time through Somerset Medical Center’s Sports Medicine Concussion
Recovery Program, he’s now back on duty — and on the ice.
Know the Signs
“People think concussions happen only during sporting events and
only to younger people, but concussions can occur during everyday activities
at any age,” says Beth Brown, PT, a Somerset Medical Center physical
therapist and certified balance and vestibular rehabilitation specialist.
“Concussions rarely show up on brain imaging tests, such as MRI
or CT scans,” Brown says. So it’s important to see your doctor
if you experience these signs after a head injury, especially if they
last more than two weeks:
- Nausea
- Headaches and sensitivity to light or sounds
- Double or blurry vision
- Trouble with memory or concentration
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Fatigue or changes in sleep patterns
Recovering from concussion requires a careful balance of therapy and rest. “To treat this complex condition, you need advanced, specialized training to know when to slow down and when to push ahead,” Brown says. Fortunately, Somerset Medical Center’s Sports Medicine team includes:
- Physical therapists specially trained in evaluating and treating patients with concussions
- Speech-language pathologists skilled in managing cognitive issues
- Athletic trainers who educate and help athletes return to sports safely
“With our advanced equipment and knowledge, we help people return
to as many of their prior activities as possible,” Brown says.
The Sports Medicine team uses an individualized approach for concussion
therapy, designing each patient’s treatment based on personal and
work needs — something that was crucial for Falk. “I aggressively
enforce laws against driving while intoxicated, so I have to demonstrate
balance and coordination,” he says. “The team considered all
my personal and work needs when designing my treatment.”
Back on the Ice
Falk’s plan involved four weeks of intensive physical therapy, along
with a regimen for him to follow at home in between his in-clinic sessions
and after completing skilled therapy. Falk gradually increased his activity
level until he was able to safely return to work. He continues exercises
on his own, but won’t need to go back for treatment unless he experiences
new symptoms.
As part of his therapy, Falk returned to the rink with his sons —
wearing a helmet. “I always made sure my sons wore theirs, and I
always wore one during hockey, but now I do every time I skate,”
he says. “The risk just isn’t worth it.”
CTA: The Concussion Recovery Program is offered at all five Somerset Medical Center Sports Medicine locations — Somerville, Bridgewater, Hillsborough, Princeton and Flemington. Visit somersetsportsmedicine.com or call 855-SPRTS-MED to learn more.