Concussion can result from a blow to the head, or the brain being shaken (for example from a whiplash injury, or accident wearing a helmet, where impact to the head was reduced).  There may be no loss of consciousness, but possibly amnesia (amnesia for less than 30 minutes - Grade 1 concussion) Grade 2 concussion has loss of consciousness for less than 5 minutes, or amnesia for anywhere between 30 minutes and 24 hours. Grade 3 concussion is with loss of consciousness for more than 5 minutes, or amnesia for more than 24 hours. 

For any loss of consciousness or amnesia (and certainly for Grade 2 and 3 concussion ) it is important to call 111 for an ambulance or go immediately to a Hospital Accident and Emergency department.  

There can be serious consequences of a head injury, such as a bleed in the brain (sub-dural, sub-arachnoid haematoma, etc).  And these ‘bleeds’ may occur some time after the injury (anytime up to around 10-14 days afterwards, although the 1st week is perhaps the most critical). Symptoms of a brain bleed are similar to those of a stroke and include drowsiness or loss of consciousness, nausea and/or vomiting, confusion, dizziness, vision changes (double vision). For more on dangerous headaches please see the description of these  -  at and near the end of the Headaches page, everything written below the pictures )

The symptoms of concussion can include tiredness, an inability to concentrate, dizziness, visual disturbances, nausea or vomiting, visual disturbances, and of course headaches. If you begin to get severe symptoms (worsening headaches) again, it is best to go to hospital.(A CT scan of your head may be required).  Possibly around 80% of concussion can resolve in fairly quickly (around 10 - 14 days)  but concussion symptoms can last longer  -  up to 3 months.  If you still have symptoms after 6 months, it is likely that these will disappear or be greatly improved within a year after the injury.  For more on this, please see concussion recovery  

Treatment for concussion can be very gentle -  and often involves Cranial Osteopathy (lightly holding the head, and affecting the nervous system and flow of cerebral spinal fluid).  Osteopathic treatment for concussion syndrome may also include treatment to the spine and vertebral column, and may also include (gentle) manipulation.

It may be best to wait several days following any head injury  (as the body and nervous system have a lot of work to do, in tissue repair and recovery).

However, if symptoms persist after one week or longer - or are very slow to resolve -  then Osteopathy (and possibly acupuncture) could be helpful.

One must never underestimate any head injury (especially with loss of consciousness) and this includes concussion.  One recent sudy found that one-third of individuals were still affected by their mild traumatic brain injury 10 years later.  (see review of this in Research Review) 

Of course, concussion may be less than 'mild traumatic brain injury' but there is definitely some association.  One a personal note, I do wonder about repetitive head injury that may occur in some contact sports (e.g. boxing) and even Rugby.  Of course, young people are usually highly resilient -   but usually repeated trauma will have longer term consequences.

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