Are Military Concussion Protocols Putting Brain Health at Risk?
In high-stakes military environments, readiness isn’t just a goal. It’s a mandate. But when soldiers experience concussive injuries from explosions or close-range blasts, is the urgency to get them back in uniform putting their long-term brain health at risk?
Emerging research and firsthand accounts suggest that it might be. And for many service members, the real battle doesn’t begin on the battlefield. It starts after the blast.
Blast Exposure and the Invisible Injury
Concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) are among the most common combat-related injuries. Unlike visible wounds, they often go undetected or minimized. In the chaos of war, a soldier who “shakes it off” and returns to duty quickly is seen as resilient. But that resilience can come at a cost.
Being in close proximity to an explosion can disrupt brain function even without a direct hit to the head. Pressure waves from blasts travel through the body and brain, leading to inflammation, microbleeds, and cognitive disturbances that may not show up immediately on scans.
The Push to Return to Duty and Why It’s Problematic
There’s a long-standing culture in the military that equates recovery with toughness and speed. Commanders want their teams back at full strength. Soldiers don’t want to let down their unit. The result is a rush to return-to-duty protocols that may not align with what the brain actually needs to heal.
Returning too soon can:
- Exacerbate existing neurological symptoms like dizziness, memory lapses, or headaches
- Increase the risk of a second injury before the brain has healed, compounding the damage
- Lead to long-term conditions such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) or post-concussive syndrome
- Impair decision-making, reaction time, and situational awareness which are all critical in combat environments
In other words, pushing through symptoms for the sake of readiness can make a soldier less ready, not more.
The Neuroscience Behind Military Head Trauma
Studies have shown that repeated concussions, especially when not given sufficient recovery time, can result in permanent structural changes in the brain. Inflammation lingers. White matter is disrupted. Yet, the standard downtime for soldiers is often shorter than what’s recommended in civilian sports medicine.
While sports-related concussion protocols generally advise recovery periods of 7 to 10 days or more, military personnel are often cleared in much shorter timeframes. For example, athletes often take weeks to recover, whereas service members may receive clearance to return to duty within days or even hours. This presents a significant mismatch with civilian recovery standards.
What Happens When Brain Injuries Follow Soldiers Home
The neurological toll doesn’t always show up during deployment. Many veterans report symptoms months or years later: brain fog, depression, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings. For some, these issues are misdiagnosed or attributed solely to PTSD, ignoring the compounding effects of undiagnosed or poorly managed concussions.
Long-term consequences can include:
- Cognitive decline
- Sleep disturbances
- Sensory processing issues
- Emotional dysregulation
- Increased risk of dementia
And yet, the cycle continues because rest is seen as a weakness and recovery as optional.
Improving Brain Recovery Standards for Service Members
If true mission readiness includes protecting soldiers not just in combat but for life after it, then brain health must be a priority. A more brain-first approach could include:
- Mandatory extended recovery periods after any blast-related injury
- Comprehensive neurological evaluations, even when symptoms seem minor
- Improved access to concussion therapy, including vestibular and cognitive rehab
- Education for command structures to destigmatize rest and recovery
- Continued tracking and support post-deployment for delayed-onset symptoms
Healing takes time. Brains don’t operate on strict timelines.
The Real Cost of Rushing Recovery
Rapid return to duty might win the next battle, but it risks losing the war on long-term health. For service members who have already sacrificed so much, the least they deserve is the time and care to fully recover.
Pushing through a concussion isn’t bravery. It’s a gamble. And when it comes to brain health, the stakes are too high to keep playing.
How Concussion Therapy Can Help
Modern concussion therapy goes beyond rest. It often includes targeted exercises to restore balance, improve eye-tracking coordination, support memory recall, and manage sensory symptoms. Vestibular rehabilitation, cognitive training, and gradual return-to-activity protocols help retrain both brain and body in a safe, structured way.
At ProFysio Physical Therapy, our licensed physical therapists provide personalized care for individuals recovering from concussions or blast-related injuries. If you’re experiencing symptoms like dizziness, mental fog, or difficulty concentrating, we use research-backed techniques to support healing and promote steady progress.
Early intervention leads to better long-term outcomes. Our team is here to help you regain control and restore your everyday function.
Schedule your concussion therapy consultation online or call us at (732) 812-5200. Let ProFysio Physical Therapy help guide you through a safe, supportive return to daily life after a concussion.