Concussion Clinic

At the MetroHealth’s Comprehensive Concussion Center, every patient receives thorough screening and evaluation to assess and treat their concussion injury.

Our dedicated, interdisciplinary concussion team works together to make sure every patient gets the individualized care they need in either our Sport and Pediatric Concussion Clinic or our Adult Concussion Clinic.

To schedule an appointment, call 216-778-4414.

Our interdisciplinary concussion team includes:

  • Board-certified physiatrists who specialize in brain injury medicine and sports medicine
  • Neuropsychologists
  • Athletic trainers
  • Therapists with neurologic and concussion rehabilitation expertise including
    • Vestibular and Balance Rehabilitation
    • Visual Processing and Motion Sensitivity Therapy
    • Cognitive Therapy
  • Additional specialists in neurology, neurosurgery and neuroradiology

Our physicians serve on the faculty of Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine, where they perform important research and teach the next generation of doctors.

Referrals are not required, please verify with your insurance carrier.

About Concussions

Photo of a football player catching a ballA concussion is a traumatic brain injury that results in temporary loss of normal brain function. Some individuals with concussions have obvious signs of injury, such as losing consciousness, other concussions come with no immediate signs of trauma.

A concussion can impair your concentration, judgment and reflexes. Concussions can also affect speech, vision, balance and muscle coordination. It is common for patients with concussions to be confused and/or may not remember what happened right before or after the injury.

The body has a remarkable ability to heal, but the brain sometimes heals quite slowly, and a concussion can have a long-lasting impact on your ability to handle everyday tasks.

Treatment Plan

We typically prescribe 1-2 days of rest after injury to our patients. We then guide them through a gradual return to normal daily activities. Treatment duration varies based on individual needs but may involve outpatient visits for up to 8 to 12 weeks.  We determine what activities are safe for you to participate in and give you a list of tasks to avoid for now.  We strive to return patients to their full activity and performance level as quickly and as safely as possible.

If your concussion was particularly serious, you might need physical, occupational, or cognitive therapy to treat your symptoms including:

  • Dizziness and balance
  • Neck, shoulder, or back pain
  • Headaches 
  • Vision Changes 
  • Improve stamina and decrease symptoms

Additional Support

  • Assistance with return to work or school forms
  • Handling challenges like overstimulation or managing workflow. 
  • Completing insurance and/or legal documents generated by your concussion event.

Our Doctors/Medical Providers

James J. Begley, MD, MS

James J. Begley, MD, MS

Fellowship Program Director

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

50 ratings / 11 reviews
Lixin Cui, MD, Ph.D

Lixin Cui, MD, Ph.D

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

30 ratings / 6 reviews
Heather A. Rainey, MD

Heather A. Rainey, MD

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

257 ratings / 57 reviews
Mary M. Vargo, MD

Mary M. Vargo, MD

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

115 ratings / 31 reviews
Victoria C. Whitehair, MD

Victoria C. Whitehair, MD

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

38 ratings / 8 reviews

Concussion Clinic

Our dedicated, interdisciplinary concussion team works together to make sure every patient gets the individualized care they need in either our Sport and Pediatric Concussion Clinic or our Adult Concussion Clinic.

To schedule an appointment, call 216-778-4414.

Doctor giving patient an exam to diagnose a possible concussion