Rethinking Concussions: From Brain Injury to Brain Recovery

Concussions are often treated as short-term injuries, but what if the real issue is how the brain recovers afterward?

In this episode, Dr. Rob Silverman sits down with Dr. Brett Jarosz, an ACA endorsed Fellow Sports & Exercise Chiropractor, to explore the evolving science of concussion recovery and brain health. Together, they challenge outdated approaches that rely on complete rest and discuss why modern rehabilitation focuses on restoring function through targeted movement, individualized therapy, and metabolic support.

Dr. Jarosz explains why a concussion is more than just a structural injury, how persistent symptoms can stem from dysfunction across multiple systems, and why factors such as autonomic regulation, inflammation, and brain energy production play critical roles in recovery. The conversation also dives into emerging therapies like photobiomodulation, the science behind red light therapy, and why personalized rehabilitation may be the future of concussion care.

Whether you're a clinician, athlete, coach, or someone recovering from a brain injury, this episode offers practical insights into helping the brain heal and perform at its best.

Key takeaways:

• Concussion is an energy crisis in the brain, affecting metabolism, blood flow, and neurological function.

• New models of concussion treatment emphasize controlled exercise and targeted rehabilitation over complete rest.

• Photobiomodulation, especially low-level laser therapy, shows promising results in improving brain recovery post-concussion.

• Persistent post-concussion symptoms could be multi-faceted, involving neuroinflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and autonomic nervous systems.

• Female athletes experience different concussion recovery processes due to biological and structural differences.

More About Dr. Brett Jarosz: Dr. Brett Jarosz is an ACA endorsed Fellow Sports & Exercise Chiropractor (AICE 2019), Neurorehabilitation Chiropractor (AICE 2022), researcher and international lecturer.

He has worked with the World Surf League, as a part of the medical team at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, as well as Surfing Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He consults with the Melbourne Storm NRL Team, along with several AFL teams, Olympic and elite athletes on neurotrauma, with his work being featured on 60 Minutes Australia, Apple TV, The Age, Herald Sun, and more.

For the past decade, Dr. Brett lectured within the Chiropractic degrees at RMIT University in Melbourne, and currently maintains a role as a lecturer for a number of post-graduate education programs.

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