About This Condition
Why Concussions Are More Than a Temporary Injury
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head that disrupts normal brain function. Most people expect to recover fully within a few weeks. For many, that does not happen. Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) is the persistence of symptoms -- headaches, brain fog, memory problems, dizziness, sleep disruption, depression, and irritability -- weeks, months, or even years after the initial injury. The underlying reason is a cascade of cellular damage that continues long after the event itself: mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and disrupted axonal communication between brain regions. Conventional medicine has no drug approved to treat this. Rest, time, and symptom management are the standard of care. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is one of the very few interventions with published clinical evidence of actually addressing the cellular mechanisms driving post-concussion symptoms -- not just masking them.
Recognizing the Condition
Common Symptoms of Post-Concussion Syndrome
Persistent headaches
Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
Memory problems
Dizziness and balance issues
Sleep disturbances and fatigue
Sensitivity to light and noise
Depression and anxiety
Irritability and mood changes
Slowed processing speed
PTSD symptoms after traumatic injury
Clinical Research
What the Evidence Shows
Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial -- Journal of Neurotrauma, 2025
A randomized placebo-controlled trial published in the Journal of Neurotrauma recruited 17 mild TBI patients experiencing persistent post-concussion symptoms including cognitive deficits, headache, dizziness, sleep problems, and PTSD. Following transcranial photobiomodulation, the active treatment group showed significant improvements across cognitive function, post-concussion symptoms, and PTSD symptoms compared to sham -- with no adverse events reported. Researchers identified tPBM as a promising intervention for the sequelae that persist in many mTBI patients long after injury.
Open-Protocol Clinical Study -- Journal of Neurotrauma, 2014
A landmark open-protocol study by Naeser et al. at Boston University and the VA Boston Healthcare System assessed transcranial red and near-infrared LED treatments in 11 chronic mild TBI patients. All participants showed significant improvements in cognitive performance -- including attention, memory, and executive function -- following treatment. Researchers documented measurable gains in the very cognitive domains that post-concussion syndrome disrupts most severely.
ImPACT Neurocognitive Assessment Study -- 2022
A retrospective study of 35 patients with persistent post-concussive symptoms used the ImPACT neurocognitive assessment tool -- the standard used by sports medicine and concussion clinics across North America -- to measure outcomes before and after photobiomodulation therapy. Patients demonstrated measurable improvements in cognitive performance scores, with researchers noting improved mitochondrial function and cerebral blood flow as the key physiological drivers of recovery.
Treatment Approach
How Laser and Light Therapy Addresses Post-Concussion Syndrome
1
Restores Cellular Energy
Concussion triggers widespread mitochondrial dysfunction in brain cells. PBM activates cytochrome-c-oxidase, the key enzyme in cellular energy production, restoring the ATP output that injured neurons need to survive and repair.
2
Reduces Neuroinflammation
The inflammatory response following concussion can persist for months or years. Near-infrared light at therapeutic wavelengths penetrates the skull to reduce the inflammatory cascade that drives ongoing headaches, brain fog, and mood disruption.
3
Improves Cerebral Blood Flow
PBM promotes nitric oxide release and vasodilation, restoring microvascular perfusion in brain regions where blood flow has been disrupted -- directly addressing the vascular component of post-concussion headaches and cognitive symptoms.
4
Supports Neural Repair
Light therapy promotes axonal repair and neurogenesis -- the regrowth of neural connections damaged by concussive force -- supporting recovery of memory, processing speed, and cognitive clarity over the course of treatment.
Patient Outcomes
What Patients in Eastern NC Are Experiencing
"In April 2019 I had a seizure, stroke, and craniotomy. My left side was paralyzed. The helmet and full body pod have improved my left arm mobility. My vision problems were corrected with prism glasses and laser therapy. I also had headaches all the time and with the use of light therapy, my headaches have lessened dramatically."
-- Tressi, ATS patient recovering from brain injury
Tyler
★★★★★
"I am recommending this treatment to two more individuals I know with brain injuries. Brain injury is life altering.
I believe that any treatment that may prove helpful should be explored."
Concussion and Post-Concussion Treatment in Greenville, NC
Advantage Therapy Solutions serves patients across Pitt County and Eastern North Carolina. A free consultation includes a full assessment of your symptoms, injury history, and how long you have been dealing with post-concussion effects -- so you leave with a clear, personalized treatment plan.
Non-invasive - Drug-free - No side effects - Same-day appointments available
