Common sports injury concerns we treat
- Pain that limits walking, lifting, or sleep
- Stiffness, swelling, or reduced range of motion
- Sports injuries: acute or overuse
- Arthritis or post-traumatic joint changes
- Conditions other doctors couldn't resolve
Concussion / Post-Concussion Syndrome
A mild traumatic brain injury
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body, common in contact sports and falls. Most resolve in weeks, but some develop persistent post-concussion symptoms. Same-day or next-day evaluations across eight LA-area offices.
See a specialist this week
Board-certified surgeons and podiatrists across eight Los Angeles area neighborhoods.
Book a visitOr call (323) 264-7600
What sets LAOSS apart
- Same- or next-day appointments at eight Los Angeles-area offices
- On-site imaging; PT coordinated with your in-network provider
- Conservative-first care, surgery only when needed
- Board-certified specialists, not generalists
Key takeaways
- A concussion is one of many sports injury conditions our specialists evaluate every day.
- Most concussions resolve over days to weeks with a short period of physical and cognitive rest followed by a stepwise return to activity.
- Never return to play the same day. Our sports medicine team runs the graduated return-to-play protocol and provides clearance.
- On-site imaging at most offices and same-day appointments across eight Los Angeles-area locations.
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body, common in contact sports and falls. Most resolve in weeks, but some develop persistent post-concussion symptoms. Symptoms can appear right away or develop over the following hours and days, so anyone with a suspected concussion should be evaluated promptly.
Concussion treatment is not surgical; it centers on 24 to 48 hours of relative physical and cognitive rest, then a gradual, symptom-guided return to school, work, and sport. No athlete should return to play the same day as a suspected concussion. Our sports medicine team manages the graduated return-to-play protocol, monitors symptoms at each step, and treats lingering problems (headaches, dizziness, visual and vestibular symptoms) when recovery stalls into post-concussion syndrome.
Below, we walk through the anatomy involved, the symptoms and causes we most often see, how we diagnose a concussion, and the full range of treatment options, from the simplest to the most involved.
Watch: Concussion
This is a serious brain injury. It happens when your brain bumps back and forth violently inside your skull. A concussion can affect the way your brain functions. It can cause permanent problems.
Inside a concussion.
A concussion happens when a blow or jolt makes the brain move rapidly inside the skull. That movement temporarily changes how brain cells work, which is why symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and trouble concentrating appear even though a CT or MRI scan usually looks normal.
Symptoms and causes of a concussion
Common symptoms
- Headache, dizziness, or balance problems
- Confusion, slowed thinking, or memory issues
- Light or noise sensitivity
- Sleep disturbance, irritability, or mood changes
Common causes
- Sports collisions (football, soccer, hockey)
- Falls, especially in older adults and children
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Whiplash-type acceleration without direct head impact
How we diagnose a concussion
You want answers, fast, and we're built to give them. Most patients leave their first LAOSS visit with a clear diagnosis and a written plan, not another referral chain.
Here's what your initial visit for a concussion typically looks like:
- Detailed history: when it started, what makes it better or worse, what you've already tried
- Focused neurological exam: balance, eye movements, memory and concentration screening
- Symptom scoring to set a baseline we track at every follow-up; CT or MRI only when red flags suggest a more serious injury
- A written plan for rest, recovery milestones, and graduated return to school, work, and sport, in plain English
Schedule your evaluation at the LAOSS office nearest you.
How we treat a concussion at LAOSS
Once we've confirmed the diagnosis, the next step is matching the right treatment to your situation. We start with the least-invasive option that fits, and escalate only when it doesn't.
Conservative care
Step 1Acute concussion care
The first days set the trajectory: relative rest, symptom management, and close follow-up.
- Immediate removal from play; no same-day return to sport
- 24 to 48 hours of relative physical and cognitive rest
- Headache and sleep management
- Light, symptom-guided activity afterward; strict prolonged rest delays recovery
Surgical care
When neededRecovery & return to play
A stepwise, monitored progression back to full activity, with treatment for symptoms that linger.
- Graduated return-to-play protocol with clearance at each stage
- Return to school or work before return to sport
- Vestibular and visual therapy for persistent dizziness
- Treatment of coexisting neck (whiplash-type) injury
- Referral for neurocognitive testing when symptoms persist
Why experience matters.
Why experience matters
Concussion care depends on careful assessment and follow-up. Returning to sport too soon raises the risk of another, more serious injury.
- Careful clinical diagnosis, with scans only when red flags are present
- Symptom tracking at every visit
- A stepwise, supervised return to school, work, and sport
- On-site imaging + coordinated PT through your in-network provider
The LAOSS approach
Our sports medicine team moves stepwise: brief rest first, then a gradual return to activity that advances only while symptoms stay settled.
- Same-day imaging at most offices
- PT coordinated in your insurance network
- Return-to-play clearance from our sports medicine team
- Direct access to your specialist between visits
Am I a candidate?
If most of these match your situation, an evaluation with a sports injury specialist is the next step.
You may be a candidate if
These signs typically point toward an in-person evaluation with a sports injury specialist.
- Headache, dizziness, or foggy thinking after a blow to the head or body
- Symptoms that get worse with schoolwork, screens, or exercise
- Symptoms that limit walking, lifting, sleep, or work
- Previous treatment that didn't fully resolve the problem
- You need medical clearance to return to sport after a concussion
What evaluation includes
Your first visit is built to give you an answer the same day, not just another referral.
- Detailed history: onset, mechanism, what makes it better or worse
- Neurological exam with balance, eye-movement, and memory screening
- Symptom scoring to set a baseline for follow-up
- Clear written plan for rest and a gradual return to school, work, and sport
- Same-day or next-day scheduling for any follow-up tests
ImportantGo to the emergency room for concussion red flags: worsening headache, repeated vomiting, slurred speech, one pupil larger than the other, increasing confusion or drowsiness, weakness or numbness, seizures, or loss of consciousness.
Your concussion recovery roadmap.
Recovery is rarely a straight line, but a clear plan with measurable milestones makes the path predictable.
- Days 0 to 14
Right after care
In the first days the focus is 24 to 48 hours of relative rest, then light, symptom-guided activity. There is no return to sport until you are cleared.
- Activity modification with clear do/don't guidance
- Headache and sleep management
- Limited screens and schoolwork at first, increased as symptoms allow
- Follow-up scheduled to track healing
- Weeks 2 to 8
Graduated return
Activity is increased in stages, and each stage must stay symptom-free before you move to the next. Most people recover within a few weeks.
- Return to school or work before return to sport
- Light aerobic exercise, then sport-specific drills
- Non-contact practice, then full-contact practice once cleared
- Vestibular or neck therapy through your in-network provider when needed
- Months 2+
Long-term care
If symptoms last beyond the usual recovery period, we treat them as post-concussion syndrome and target the specific problems: headaches, dizziness, sleep, and concentration.
- Return-to-activity plan with measured benchmarks
- Home program tailored to your sport or job
- Maintenance visits or imaging if symptoms change
- Direct line back to your specialist if needed
Risks & considerations
What to weigh before you decide.
We talk through what to expect and what to watch for with every patient and family.
General considerations
Concussion care is not surgical, so the main risks come from the injury itself and from returning to activity too soon.
- A second head injury before full recovery can be more serious
- Symptoms can flare if activity is increased too quickly
- Overusing pain relievers can cause rebound headaches
- Strict, prolonged rest can slow recovery
Concussion-specific considerations
Some concerns are specific to concussion. We discuss these at your visit so you know what to watch for.
- Symptoms that last longer than expected (post-concussion syndrome)
- Lingering headaches, dizziness, or trouble concentrating
- A neck injury from the same impact that needs its own treatment
- Slower recovery in children, teens, and people with previous concussions
Meet our sports injury doctors in the Greater Los Angeles area
At LAOSS, our sports injury specialists are board-certified and treat these problems every day. From minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to joint replacement and arthritis management, our physicians bring decades of experience to every case. We have cared for Los Angeles patients since 2007, with one goal for each: less pain, better movement, and a return to the activities you love.
Meet your sports injury specialists.
Compare up to 34 providers
Accepting new patients
Hayk Stepanyan, MD
Total Joint & Sports Medicine
- Glendale
- Santa Fe Springs
- East Los Angeles
Careful concussion care starts here
Don't let a concussion be something you just power through. With same- or next-day appointments at multiple Los Angeles locations, you'll never wait weeks or months for answers. The same team handles your diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Whether you need return-to-play clearance, treatment for lingering headaches and dizziness, or vestibular therapy, we plan it with you and coordinate each step.
Call or schedule online today to see a sports injury specialist in Los Angeles.
Common concussion questions
- Concussion is a clinical diagnosis; there is no single test. We use a detailed history, a neurological exam, and balance, eye-movement, and cognitive screening. CT or MRI is ordered only when red flags suggest a more serious injury; a normal scan does not rule out concussion.
Don't wait on pain.
Book a visit with a sports injury specialist at any of our eight Los Angeles-area offices.
Booking now
21 specialists · 8 offices
Greater Los Angeles
On-site X-raySame visit
Most insurers acceptedIn-network