Concussion Rehabilitation
In North York and Richmond Hill

The scan came back clear, the emergency department sent you home, and three weeks later you still cannot get through a workday without a headache. That situation is far more common than most people expect, and it is exactly what concussion rehabilitation is built for. A concussion changes how the brain, the neck and the visual system work together rather than damaging any structure a CT scan can show, which is why a normal scan and ongoing symptoms are not a contradiction. At Toronto Wellness & Physio Center, concussion recovery is handled as part of physiotherapy at our North York and Richmond Hill clinics. This page covers what a proper assessment separates out, what treatment involves, and how a return to work, school or sport is actually staged.

Motor Vehicle Accident injuries

Get emergency care first if any of these are present

Rehabilitation is for a concussion that has already been assessed medically. Before booking anything with us, go to an emergency department or call 911 if you notice any of the following in the hours or days after a head injury.

  • A headache that keeps getting worse rather than settling
  • Repeated vomiting, or a seizure
  • Weakness, numbness or clumsiness on one side of the body
  • Slurred speech, unusual confusion, or difficulty recognising people or places
  • Increasing drowsiness, or difficulty waking the person
  • Neck pain after the injury with any pins and needles into the arms or legs

These signs point to something other than a concussion and need imaging, not exercise. Once a physician has cleared you, rehabilitation is the next step.

Eye testing Concussion

What a concussion is, and why the scan came back clear

A concussion is a functional brain injury caused by force transmitted to the head, face or neck. The head does not need to hit anything, and you do not need to lose consciousness. A hard tackle, a fall from standing, or the whip of a rear-end collision is enough to move the brain inside the skull.

Because the change is in how brain cells are working rather than in the structure of the brain, standard CT and MRI imaging usually looks normal. Those scans are done to rule out bleeding and fracture, which are serious and different problems. A clear scan means those have been excluded. It does not mean nothing happened, and it does not mean your symptoms are imagined.

physiotherapy clinic in north York and Richmond

Symptoms that suggest recovery has stalled

Most concussions settle within two to four weeks without any formal rehabilitation. Rehab becomes worthwhile when symptoms are still limiting daily life beyond that window, or when they return every time you try to do more.

  • Headache or pressure behind the eyes that builds through the day
  • Dizziness, unsteadiness, or a sense that the room lags behind your head when you turn
  • Eye strain, blurred vision or nausea after twenty minutes of screen work or reading
  • Sensitivity to light and to background noise, particularly in shops and open offices
  • Mental fog, slower thinking, and losing your thread mid-conversation
  • Broken sleep, low mood, or a shorter fuse than usual
  • Neck pain and stiffness that started at the same time as the head injury

Why the dark room advice has been dropped

For years the standard instruction was complete rest until symptoms disappeared. Current guidance in Ontario and internationally has moved away from that, because extended rest tends to slow recovery rather than speed it.

The approach now is a short period of relative rest, usually the first 24 to 48 hours, followed by a gradual return to light activity kept below the level that provokes symptoms. The skill is in setting that level accurately and raising it at the right pace, which is the practical value of a structured programme over guesswork at home.

What the assessment separates out

Concussion symptoms overlap heavily, and a headache with dizziness can come from at least three different sources. The point of the first appointment is to work out which systems are actually involved in your case, because treating the wrong one wastes weeks.

System assessedWhat it usually explainsWhat treatment involves
NeckMany post-concussion headaches and some dizziness come from the neck, which takes the same force as the head in most injuriesManual therapy, deep neck control work, posture and load management
Balance and inner earDizziness, unsteadiness in crowds or the dark, symptoms when turning the head quicklyGaze stability and habituation exercises, graded balance retraining
Eye movementBlurring, eye fatigue and nausea when reading or working on a screenTracking, focusing and convergence exercises, plus screen pacing strategies
Exertion toleranceThe ceiling of physical effort you can currently reach before symptoms returnA graded aerobic programme that lifts that ceiling week by week

Where dizziness turns out to be the dominant problem, treatment overlaps closely with vestibular work, and the two are often run together rather than as separate courses of care.

How a course of treatment usually runs

No two concussion recoveries follow the same timeline, but the structure of the programme is consistent. This is the sequence you can expect.

Baseline assessment

Symptom scoring, neck examination, balance and eye movement testing, and a controlled exertion test to find your current tolerance.

Setting the daily ceiling

You leave with a specific limit for activity, screen time and exercise, set just below the point where symptoms flare rather than at zero.

Targeted treatment

Hands-on work for the neck, and specific exercises for whichever of the balance and visual systems the assessment implicated.

Raising the ceiling

Aerobic activity is increased in controlled steps, with the same tests repeated so progress is measured rather than estimated.

Reintroducing real demands

Full work or school days, driving, screen-heavy tasks, and finally the physical and cognitive load of your sport.

A mild flare after a step up is normal information, not a setback. It tells us the last increase was slightly too large, and the programme is adjusted accordingly.

Returning to work, school and sport​

Getting back to full duties is staged, and the stages for the desk and for the field are not the same thing. Both are planned at the assessment so you know what the path looks like before you start.

  • Work.
    Often begins with reduced hours, screen breaks on a timer, and a shift away from the most cognitively demanding tasks. We can set out what you need in writing for your employer.
  • School and university.
    Shorter study blocks, reduced screen exposure, and adjustments to test conditions where they are needed.
  • Sport.
    A stepwise return that moves from light aerobic work to sport-specific drills, then non-contact training, then full contact, with a symptom-free requirement at each stage before moving on. Medical clearance is required before full contact resumes.
  • Driving.
    Held back until reaction time, neck rotation and visual tolerance have all recovered enough, since these are commonly still affected when other symptoms have settled.
Returning to work, school and sport​

Your physiotherapists

Concussion rehabilitation at both clinics is delivered by our registered physiotherapists, working alongside our physiotherapy assistant. Every physiotherapist in Ontario appears on the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario public register, where you can check their current registration category and any controlled act authorisations before you book.

Bhavi

Bhavi Patel, Physiotherapist

Treats at both clinics, with a caseload centred on musculoskeletal assessment and graded exercise progression.

physiotherapist in Richmond hill and north York

Afrooz Shah, Physiotherapist

Treats at both clinics in English and Farsi. Certified in dry needling for post-concussion neck and upper trapezius tension.

You can request a specific therapist when you book, and you can ask to be treated in Farsi or Turkish. Verification is available on the CPO public register.

Concussion rehabilitation at our two clinics

Both clinics run the same assessment and share one patient file, so you can start at one address and continue at the other without repeating your history. If travelling makes your symptoms worse, which is common in the first few weeks, book the clinic closest to you rather than the one with the earliest opening.

Yonge St clinic, Richmond Hill

This clinic sees more sport and fall related concussions, including youth hockey and soccer from the Richmond Green and Elgin Mills area, along with older adults after a fall at home. Patients come from Langstaff, Bayview Hill, Doncrest, Crosby, Mill Pond, Oak Ridges and north Thornhill.

9555 Yonge St, Unit 307, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 9M5

Monday to Saturday
10:00 to 18:00
Sunday
Closed
4.8Based on 183 Google reviews
See all 183 reviews on Google
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Simone Wood
Posted on Google

Very professional and detailed providers. Awesome office administrators, Tina is so friendly and very nice manager and Mahdieh and Armita are friendly as well.

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M Sakh
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Everything was great and it was a good experience

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Mohamad Ebrahimi
Posted on Google

Great service and peaceful vibes. Clinic is managed professionally and is very clean. Banafsheh is skilled and attentive. Left feeling refreshed and relaxed. Highly recommend

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Afsaneh Bit
Posted on Google

Just to start off, I am amazed by their work at Wellness Toronto, even though it was my first time going, I purchased a 5 time package and I truly look forward to it. I am very picky when it…comes to an area being clean and the over all service and I can simply say there was nothing for me to fault at. 100% recommended!

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MOMO Ah
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Tina, the manager, was very helpful in booking my appointment and guiding me through the services. The physiotherapy sessions were excellent, and I’d definitely recommend this place to friends and family.

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Sina H.Maleki
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Great place to get professional and relaxing massage. Yang did an amazing job with his massage…

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Sibel Gezer
Posted on Google

A truly excellent and caring physiotherapy clinic that I can always recommend.”

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Info Toronto Platinum
Posted on Google

Amazing service and very friendly staff. I had physio there several times and had great experience and my pain was gone. Highly recommended

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duke younge
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My spouse took me here for the 1st time... Great clean place to get your wellness services from Tina & crew, they're polite & experience! Especially best massage session I ever had by Nicoya, it was a extremely muscle relief…experience. Thank You so much & hope to book you again soon.

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Sasan Salehi
Posted on Google

I went here for both massage and physio and had a great experience. The clinic is clean, and the service is excellent.My masseuse, Banafshe, was fantastic, she listened to my concerns, focused on exactly what I needed, and I…felt a big improvement right away.Highly recommend. I’ll definitely be coming back on a regular basis.

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Lida Meysam
Posted on Google

Great physiotherapy clinic! Very professional and caring. I feel bettet after the sessions. Nicoya is the best. Mahdieh is nice and helpful.

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Amir Assarzadegan
Posted on Google

The team is super friendly and made me feel comfortable from day one. Therapist was incredibly knowledgeable and supportive through my recovery. Thank you.

Wilson Ave clinic, North York

Sitting between Allen Road and the 401, this clinic sees most of its head injuries arrive through collision and workplace files, including rear end impacts on the highway approaches and falls in the trades corridor west of Dufferin. Patients travel in from Downsview, Bathurst Manor, Clanton Park, Willowdale and York Mills.

951 Wilson Ave, Unit 15, North York, ON M3K 2A7

Monday to Saturday
10:00 to 18:00
Sunday
11:00 to 18:00
5.0Based on 84 Google reviews
See all 84 reviews on Google
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Simin
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I had a great experience—the best massage, a wonderful atmosphere, and perfect tranquility. Thank you so much!

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Ali FIRAT
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It’s an amazing adventure. The place is very comfortable and gives cozy atmosphere. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. Thank you for your service and hospitality

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Cihan Tastan
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Friendly customer satisfaction, good massage and physiotherapy, I was satisfied, thank you.

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مسعود براتی
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«محیط تمیز، برخورد محترمانه و درمان مؤثر. تجربه خیلی خوبی داشتم🌹

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ekin aksoy
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Bu klinik gerçekten işini iyi yapan bir yer .çalışanları çok guleryuzlu ve oldukça kibarlar . Şiddetle rahatlamak için önerilir.

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Mohsen Jarahi
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I highly recommend Toronto wellness physio center. With lots of pain came to the clinic and now I do not have pain. Thanks

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Mike Silva
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Negar Pilates is an amazing instructor! She is highly knowledgeable and you can tell she cares about her students. Her teaching style makes me want to improve constantly. I highly recommend!

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Saba Sheikhaziz
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"Wonderful service! The staff are friendly and caring. Definitely recommend this place.

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pegah yeilaghi
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I just want to share how grateful I am for the amazing physiotherapy care I’ve received recently. Special thanks to Asal, who runs everything with such kindness and professionalism, and to Sona, the talented massage therapist and physiotherapist whose hands…work magic! Their dedication, warmth, and expertise have truly made a difference in my recovery and well-being. Highly recommended for anyone looking for genuine care and great results!

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M Nojomi
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.Great staff and environment, the receptionists and physiotherapist are great.

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niusha rezaei
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very knowledgeable and professional staff, clean and reliable service👍🏻

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Kimia Mirzaei
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Very professional and welcoming team. The care I received at Toronto Wellness & Physio Centre made a real difference in my recovery. Clean environment and easy scheduling. Highly recommended.

FAQ

My CT scan was normal. Do I still need rehabilitation?

Possibly. A normal scan rules out bleeding and fracture, which is what it is for. Concussion symptoms come from a change in function that imaging does not show, so a clear scan and ongoing symptoms sit together comfortably.

Most people recover within two to four weeks. Where symptoms persist past that, a structured programme usually runs over several weeks with progress measured at each reassessment rather than judged by how you feel on the day.

No. Complete avoidance tends to prolong recovery. The aim is finding the amount of screen time you can handle without provoking symptoms, then increasing it in steps.

Not to book a physiotherapy assessment. You should have been assessed by a physician after the injury, and some benefits plans ask for a referral before they reimburse, so check your policy if you intend to claim.

Yes. Persistent symptoms months after a concussion are common and still treatable. The assessment works the same way, and the neck and visual components in particular often respond well even long after the injury.

Return to sport is staged, and full contact requires medical clearance in addition to completing the rehabilitation stages. Rushing this raises the risk of a second injury while the first has not resolved.

Yes. Mention it when you book and we will schedule you with a therapist who speaks it.

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