The peer-reviewed research process is long and tenuous but vital in order to improve evidence based care for concussions.
Lauren and her teams with Kean University, Northeastern University, and Columbia University have been hard at work to validate and introduce new techniques that could be foundational in your care!
Expand here to view our research - each are the first of their kind to introduce new areas of practice to "close the gap in knowledge" in concussion treatment!
- In 2024 we were able to publish our groundbreaking research in the first pilot prospective trial unveiling the Ziaks Integrative Neurologic Concussion (ZINC) Protocol.
- In 2022, we were able to publish our test-retest data for patients with dysautonomia following concussion demonstrating physiologic changes with structured cardiovascular exercise.
- Introducing signs and symptoms consistent with dysautonomia on the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test is now available!
- This data was also published as a poster presentation at the 2021 American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting – page 29. Much more to come!
- 2021 article detailing the potential role Primitive Reflex Integration Therapy can play in concussion recovery!
- 2021 also brought a paper highlighting the portion of her protocol focusing on the the cervical spine post concussion and early intervention opportunities!
- 2019 brought a case study detailing the integrative visuo-vestibular treatment protocol that has given Lauren the incredible outcomes for >1200 patients that she continues to implement in a modified and progressive way today!
Community outreach helps build awareness.
Here are a couple of Lauren’s favorite articles to share with you:
- Helmet maintenance is a crucial part of Safe Sports – when to replace, what they prevent, what kind of helmet to buy.
- Baseline testing is a complicated topic – when done correctly and thoroughly, it can serve an integral part of your sports safety practice.
- In the March issue of PT in Motion Lauren was one of four specialists interviewed for a Feature Article on Concussions.
- Read Lauren’s Defining Moment essay from the American Physical Therapy Association’s PT in Motion.
Presenting research and updated clinical knowledge is an important part of the process to progress patient care. Lauren is available to speak at local and national conferences as well as universities / colleges and even some high schools have requested her services.
Expand here to view some examples:
- What Comes First? Sequencing integrated multimodal treatment for individuals with protracted concussion recovery. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting. Boston, MA. February 2024.
- Taking the next step in dysautonomia management: advancing PT practice & overcoming clinical challenges. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting. *ANPT featured session and recorded for on demand content, Selected as a “Hot Topic” session by the APTA. Boston, MA. February 2024.
- Emerging Strategies for the Physical Therapist to Identify and Manage Dysautonomia. Educational Session. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting. San Diego, CA. February 2023.
- Emerging Strategies to Identify and Manage Dysautonomia After Brain Injury: A Team Approach. Conference Symposium. American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Annual Conference. Chicago, IL. November 2022
- Identification and Management of Dysautonomia after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury – Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey Virtual Annual Professional Seminar, 2021
- 2021 posters – included Baseline Testing and Concussion at ACSM, presentations to Great Britain Snow Sports, local colleges and high schools!
- Onboarding certification programs for a large PT practice in Washington State as well as Great Britain Snow Sports.
- ACRM Annual Meeting 2018 & APTA’s CSM 2018 – Potential Role of Primitive Reflex Integration.
- ACRM 2018 & APTA’s CSM 2018 – Integration of Visuo-Vestibular Therapy
If you would like Lauren to present for your group just send an email to PhoenixConcussion@gmail.com
Fostering partnerships is crucial as you try to reach the most concussion survivors and clinicians possible.
Our relationship with Concussion Talk has been an incredible experience and we can’t believe just how many podcasts episodes we have completed!
Our goal is to promote concussion awareness and education.
- Lauren and Nick also collaborated to bring you a course series on a wide range of topics in the world of concussion.
- Each class is short (<10mins) and Listenable has so many other great courses for you to try! Here’s an overview.
Dysautonomia - exercise and activity intolerance
In our July 2023 episode, Nick and I get to talk about research updates in the world of dysautonomia while we overview dysautonomia for those who are new to their diagnosis:
In the Fall of 2022 my co-author and friend Dr. Jenna Tucker joins us to talk about our research in the world of dysautonomia and where we are headed next!
Episode 10 is among our most important! Here we detail dysautonomia and the impact on concussion/TBI recovery. We also discuss the details of dysfunctional breathing which is a common side effect of TBI and can occur with OR without dysautonomia.
Episode 17 is another big one! Here my colleague Kristina Hanson joins me to discuss all things POTS. This one is more conversational and we cover a lot!
Looking back to our 2nd ever episode is a fun experience. There are still some excellent pearls in here about exericse for brain health in general! This is a quick 13 minute review of exercise for brain injuries. Why do you get that brain boost with exercise and how can you capitalize on it?
Return to work and school
Our 3rd episode is still a great one! A quick 14 minute review of accommodations for school, work, and college! Check out our accommodations page to learn more!
Vision Therapy
We need to expand more here but a great starting place is Episode 11 – Lauren and guest Katie Mitchell talk about the importance of physical therapy and specifically vision therapy in the care for concussion.
Chronic Dizziness - 3PD
In Episode 12 we discuss Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (3PD). Chronic dizziness is a misfiring in our brain and can easily be treated with the right interventions! If you’ve had dizziness for >3 months, this one is for you
The Science of Chronic Pain
Episodes 14, 15, & 16 were a 3-part series on Chronic Pain. Give these a listen if you want to understand why some pain becomes chronic pain, how the brain changes under pain, “nerves that fire together wire together”, and of course, how to start to work towards a pain free life!
Mental Health and Sleep
In Episode 9 Lauren and Nick talk about the importance of evidence based treatment for anxiety, depression, and post traumatic stress disorders. There is so much out there that can help us with both our conscious and our subconscious stress and anxiety. Check it out and then find an incredible provider near you!
Episode 8 is important for everyone, brain injury or not! Here sleep health, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, and the negative effects of sleep aids are discussed.
Interesting topics including nutrition and CTE
Our 5th episode was a review of what we know and what we don’t know about CTE from the Brain Injury Summit in Vail, CO. Featuring our co-founder Melinda Roalstad.
Episode 4 is a short, 15 minute review of supplements for your brain both immediately after injury and for long-term recovery! Featuring Bri Goslin – a graduate from USC. Check out our nutrition page to learn more.
Course / Presentations Review
In these podcasts we bring you summary content from courses Lauren attended or presentations she was able to complete at different conferences.
On episode 7 Lauren and Nick discuss her presentation at the annual ACRM conference covering Primitive Reflex Integration and concussion management.
Parts 1 and 2 of Lauren’s review of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Section Meeting from 2018. Part 1 reviews the 2 posters presented at CSM including vision and vestibular therapy for the first 10 minutes and our groundbreaking work in Primitive Reflex Integration for the second 10 minutes. Part 2 reviews the content provided at CSM and discusses chronic concussions, exercise, and return to function!
Collaborative Conversations
Lauren was a guest on Concussion Talk’s podcast Episode 78 “Intimate Partner Violence & Traumatic Brain Injury”. A panel discusses the complex world of IPV.
Lauren was a guest on Concussion Talk’s podcast “Concussion in Women & Girls”. A panel discusses all things concussion in the context of the female world.
In collaboration with ConcussionTalk, Lauren joins in for a discussion on yoga and brain injuries. Listen in to learn about the different types of yoga, how to get started, and how to accommodate your practice to you!
Our first Facebook Live event was a difficult endeavor but we are proud of the result. Here Lauren and Nick talk all things concussion/TBI including their own stories, how they got into the brain injury field and answered questions regarding social implications of concussion, how to handle emotional swings, and advice to listeners.
Our first ever introduction!
Listen to our 1st episode now! A quick 10 minute intro to all things Phoenix, concussions and healthcare.
Listen to an interview with Park City, Utah’s KPCW to briefly discuss concussions leading up to CONNECT Summit County’s panel discussion on TBI and mental health.
Read this great article summarizing the panel discussion in the Park Record.
This was a cool feature piece in the Deseret News from Lauren’s first concussion employer where she was able to have the flexibility to establish her new treatment paradigm before moving into the hospital based setting!
Check out featured videos and podcasts from collaborations with Flowing Freeride and PTTechTalk.
If you have a podcast and want to collaborate – send an email to phoenixconcussion@gmail.com today!