HeadWise Concussion Care

16/10/2025

A big thank you to Andy Gibson from HeadWise Concussion Care. Bringing in true collaboration for those suffering from concussion, a powerful reminder that appropriate interprofessional teamwork can make all the difference. Osteopaths are well equipped to work in this space and integrate seamlessly a...

10/08/2025

In the midst of the winter gloom our counsellor Sophia has delighted us with her thoughts on why natural light is key to keeping our bodies and minds energised during this season ☔

Check out her tips here: https://www.healthwiseosteo.co.nz/blog/tackling-winter-blues-lets-there-be-light-natural-light

29/07/2025

Looking to grow in a supportive, forward-thinking clinic? 👀

Join our vibrant team at HealthWise Osteopathic Care nestled in Herne Bay! We are on the lookout for an Associate Osteopath to join our dynamic team and contribute to our commitment to excellence in patient care.

Find the full description and apply here: https://www.healthwiseosteo.co.nz/careers

27/07/2025

Concussion can feel lonely & isolating. It can be hard for other people to understand and sometimes even harder to explain your experience 🤕

This is one of the reasons we share people's stories; the up's, down's and successes.

Lydia sustained a concussion after a car accident which subsequently affected her job as a NICU nurse and her passion for ice skating.

“The most difficult thing about recovering from concussion is the patience you need,” Lydia says. “When I was really deep in my recovery, I felt like I lost the joyful part of myself. I’m usually a very happy, energetic and positive person... so it feels great to be recovered and have the same zest for life I had pre-injury.”

You can read more about Lydia's story of recovery here: https://www.acc.co.nz/newsroom/stories/lydias-story

21/07/2025

We have put all our tips & tricks for concussion management in one place just for you! 🫶

Concussions are more than just an injury, but come with unexpected everyday challenges. Sensory overwhelm to noise, light and activity can come as a surprise and figuring out how to manage it all can be too much.

Check out our blog below on our recommendations to help get you through recovery ⬇

https://www.headwise.co.nz/blog/your-concussion-toolkit-how-cope-sensory-overload

22/05/2025

Lets talk sports related concussions in NZ 🏂

Fact is sport is actually NOT the number 1 cause of concussion. But you may be surprised about last year's report by ACC on the number of sports concussions* (1).

Now it's important to keep in mind that these are ONLY the reported concussions. We know that the estimate of unreported concussions is somewhere around 30% 😥 (2).

Did you guess correct? 👀


(1) https://catalogue.data.govt.nz/dataset/b7b11929-f2ee-456a-b791-70bc7f492944/resource/4a1e66f8-4151-4a0c-bdb3-9e105b56043f/download/data-publication-tbi-july-2024.xlsx
(2)https://www.acc.co.nz/assets/injury-prevention/ACC_CIS-Guidelines_Jan2024.pdf

*we excluded 'other' as its not further defined

22/05/2025

NZ has always seen a contact sport heavy country and we love it 🏉 But an enormous amount of time, money and research has gone into ensuring that the risk of athletes suffering long-term brain health issues continues to drop.

As Patria Hume a sports scientist from AUT pointed out RUNIT is a “reckless and dangerous spectacle” that disrespects the patients, families, practitioners, doctors and researchers who continue work to improve outcomes, reduce risk and raise awareness of the consequences of head injuries.

“We’ve spent years building evidence-based strategies to reduce head and neck injuries in rugby and contact sports. This event ignores all of that.”

'Victory belongs to the one who dominates the collision.'

12/05/2025

Concussion symptoms present differently for everyone. But its often the case that they fall into these five categories*:

Cognitive👉 Difficulty concentrating, day time sleepiness, persistent fatigue, memory problems, and slowed processing speed.

Ocular-motor 👉 Eye-related symptoms such as double vision, blurry vision, and difficulty with eye tracking.

Headache/Migraine 👉 Persistent headaches, migraines, and sensitivity to light and sound.

Vestibular 👉 Dizziness, lightheadedness, balance problems, and vertigo.

Anxiety/Mood 👉 Increased anxiety, irritability, depression, and changes in personality.

This is why we do a thorough history, symptom screening, physical exam and testing to best capture your unique picture of concussion.


*There are two additional categories or 'modifiers' which we will expand on more in the next post!

09/05/2025

Shawn's story is one of experience 🏉

"Don’t follow my example...had there been better knowledge and support systems in the game, I might be still out there enjoying the game and people I love."

As the Basketball NZ Injury Prevention Manager and former rugby league player, he's bravely shared his own experience of concussions to educate our rangatahi or anyone who plays sport.

Sharing these stories isn't a scare tactic, but to highlight that we have more information now than ever. The goal is to keep sport enjoyable, create cherished memories and most importantly safe 🫶


https://www.acc.co.nz/newsroom/stories/shawns-story-being-smart-about-concussion-in-sport

14/04/2025

ITS BASELINE TESTING SEASON 📣

Do you play a high-risk sport or have a high-risk job? Unfortunately, concussions do occur. Thats why baseline testing is fundamental to long term brain care! 📊

Being proactive before you get injured with a baseline test gives you and potential healthcare professionals individualised data to know exactly where your brain function was before your concussion, and exactly where to return.

As we know the resolution of symptoms does not reflect full brain recovery. Post-injury testing when compared with your baseline can identify subtle changes that might still be present, helping to inform when you are fully recovered and safe to return to sport or work.

Put your brain health first! 🧠

19/03/2025

Alcohol & concussions: A risky mix 🍷🚫

After a concussion, your brain is already working hard to heal. Adding alcohol into the mix can slow recovery, worsen symptoms, and increase your risk of further injury. We know its "no fun" but neither is having a concussion.

Here’s why you should consider a mocktail over a cocktail:

❌ Delays healing – Alcohol disrupts brain function and can slow down the repair process.
😵 Worsens symptoms – Dizziness, headaches, brain fog, and poor sleep can all get worse.
🛑 Increases risk of re-injury – Impaired judgment and coordination make you more vulnerable to another concussion.
💤 Disrupts Sleep – Quality sleep is essential for brain recovery, but alcohol interferes with deep sleep cycles.

To put it simply drinking alcohol is not going to promote optimal health and recovery for you following a concussion. Give it the best chance to recover 💙

11/03/2025

Who am I now? 🤷‍♀️

Finding words to express how having a concussion can change how you view yourself, your everyday life and your relationships isn't easy.

It's an invisible injury that can have a ripple affect across all areas of health and well-being and leave you with more questions than answers...and a whole lot of uncertainty 😓

Sophia has written a beautiful and insightful blog, pulling from her own experience of head injury and the impact it has on sense of self and identity grief.

You can read it here: https://www.headwise.co.nz/blog/identity-grief-after-traumatic-brain-injury