Have you ever heard of head trauma? Head trauma is a form of physical injury that occurs in the head, both bone and brain, due to a direct impact. A concussion is one of the most common forms of head trauma. Not only on the head, but the vibrations received by the body can also cause the risk of concussion.

In general, people who suffer from concussion will show symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, to loss of consciousness. This trauma can also make them lose their ability to think for a while. As long as there are no serious injuries, a concussion can be treated with resting and taking pain relievers such as paracetamol. In addition, light therapy can also help speed up the healing process of this trauma.

According to the results of a recent study conducted by the University of Arizona College of Medicine, researchers found that light therapy, especially blue light, can help reduce symptoms of concussion, such as sleep problems, concentration, and depression. Blue light has been shown to help improve the body's circadian rhythm, specifically the sleep cycle and body preservation, which can help improve sleep quality and mood. These results were obtained after researchers conducted an analysis of 35 people with an average age of 26 years and diagnosed with a concussion before.

By using a tabletop device that can emit bright light, all participants were asked to undergo this therapy for 30 minutes every morning for six weeks. As many as 17 people underwent blue light therapy, while the rest only got a placebo. The results showed that those who underwent blue light therapy are known to experience a decrease in their depressive symptoms by up to 22% compared with those who received placebo light therapy, which only experienced a decrease of 4%. This decrease in depressive symptoms is related to improvements in other symptoms.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Getty Images

Source:

• Science Daily - Can light therapy help improve mood in people with concussion? (2020). https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200302162250.htm, 3 March 2020.