Functional Exercises in Concussion Rehab: Helping Kansas City Patients Return to Real Life

Functional Exercises in Concussion Rehab: Helping Kansas City Patients Return to Real Life

Recovering from a concussion isn’t just about reducing symptoms — it’s about getting your brain and body working together again in real-world situations.

At our concussion center, Dr. Lance Stevenson, DC integrates functional exercises into concussion rehabilitation to help patients safely return to work, school, sports, and daily life after a brain injury.

Whether you’re still dealing with brain fog, dizziness, balance issues, or fatigue weeks after your injury, functional rehab can be the bridge between just “feeling better” and being truly ready to perform in life again.

What Are Functional Exercises in Concussion Care?

Functional exercises are movements or activities that mimic the demands of daily tasks — combining physical, visual, vestibular, and cognitive systems to restore true neurological function.

These exercises are not just about strength or fitness. They help retrain the brain-body connection and improve:

• Balance and postural control

• Dual-tasking ability (physical + mental at once)

• Coordination of vision, movement, and reaction time

• Tolerance to real-life environments like work, school, or sports

• Recovery of autonomic regulation (heart rate, blood flow, breathing)

Why Functional Exercises Matter After a Concussion

Concussions cause a temporary neurometabolic crisis, but when symptoms persist, it’s usually due to disruptions in one or more key systems:

• Cervical spine

• Vestibular system (inner ear and balance)

• Visual/oculomotor control

• Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Functional exercises target these systems together — not in isolation — to create lasting improvements that translate into real-world function.

Common Functional Exercise Categories We Use in Kansas City

🌀 Vestibular + Balance Drills

• Tandem walking with head turns

• Single-leg balance on foam with eye tracking

• Reactive stepping drills

• Laser-guided posture retraining

• VOR (vestibulo-ocular reflex) stabilization with movement

These build confidence and reduce dizziness or unsteadiness during motion.

🧠 Cognitive-Motor Integration

• Walking while reciting sequences

• Ball toss with reaction tasks

• Visual scanning during movement

• Obstacle navigation with memory recall

These simulate the mental multitasking needed for work, driving, and sports.

👀 Oculomotor + Gaze Stability

• Saccades and pursuits during walking

• Reading while balancing on an unstable surface

• Dynamic gaze stability in crowded visual environments

Perfect for patients struggling with reading, screen use, or motion-triggered symptoms.

🫁 Autonomic + Cardiovascular Recovery

• Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test (BCTT)

• Heart-rate guided aerobic training

• Breathing drills paired with movement

• EWOT (Exercise with Oxygen Therapy) for dysautonomia

These help restore exercise tolerance, stamina, and regulate the brain’s stress response.

Who Benefits from Functional Concussion Rehab?

If you’ve been told to just “rest” but still struggle with:

• Headaches triggered by activity

• Dizziness when turning your head or moving fast

• Fatigue that worsens with multitasking

• Blurred vision or difficulty focusing

• Anxiety in stimulating environments (like grocery stores)

...then functional exercises may be the missing link in your recovery.

Evidence-Based, Individualized, and Outcome-Focused

At our Kansas City car accident clinic, we don’t guess. Dr. Lance Stevenson, DC evaluates your specific impairments and builds a functional rehab plan customized to your needs — using current research and proven protocols.

Whether you’re returning to:

• School or academics

• A physically demanding job

• Athletic training

• Daily activities like driving, shopping, or parenting

...we help you rebuild the systems your brain depends on in real life — not just in a quiet clinic room.

Let’s Get You Back to Life

If you’ve had a concussion from a car accident, fall, or sports injury and you're still struggling to return to normal, it's time to move beyond just symptom tracking.

Dr. Lance Stevenson, DC offers comprehensive, functional concussion care for patients across Kansas City, including Overland Park, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Shawnee, and Liberty.

Call 816-226-7476 today to schedule your full evaluation and get started on a recovery plan that prepares your brain and body for real life again.

Special thanks to Complete Concussions for their training and educational resources. To learn more about comprehensive concussion treatment options, visit completeconcussions.com.

Disclaimer:

This blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace medical advice. If you have experienced a concussion or other injury, please consult a qualified healthcare provider. Always follow the advice and treatment plan given by your medical professional.

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