Understanding factors influencing concussion treatment and rehabilitation: an exploratory qualitative study

Concussion is a common neurological injury, affecting millions of individuals across the lifespan. Despite advances in early initiation of care, up to 30% of patients experience prolonged recovery that disrupts school, work, and daily life. While prior research has clarified when and how concussion treatment should be initiated, less is known about the factors shaping recovery once treatment has begun.

This study used a pragmatic, hybrid descriptive qualitative design to examine the factors, including barriers and facilitators, influencing concussion recovery after treatment initiation. Data were generated through a small focus group that included eight clinicians and individuals with lived concussion experience.

Through thematic analysis, six themes emerged from the guiding research questions. Although distinct, these themes converged around four overarching mechanisms shaping recovery: educational transfer, relational communication, self-awareness, and structural access to appropriate care.

Findings suggest that concussion recovery depends on factors extending beyond the clinical encounter itself. Effective care requires attention to educational, relational, structural, and contextual factors that enable patients to engage with, sustain, and generalize treatment over time. These insights highlight the need for concussion care models that are longitudinal, systemic, and responsive to patients' real-world contexts.