Welcome to The Concussion Nerds Podcast, where we revolutionize concussion care!
This show is for passionate clinicians who want to excel in their field, move clients from stuck to excelling, and celebrate life's moments. Join us as we bring you cutting-edge advancements, practical tips, and inspiring success stories. Together, we'll propel concussion care into a new era, blending science with heart and soul.
Whether you're a seasoned pro, a fresh face, or an individual on their own healing journey, this podcast is your ultimate resource. Let's build a community that uplifts and empowers one another, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in concussion care.
Get ready to laugh, learn, and grow with me, Natasha Wilch, on The Concussion Nerds Podcast!
EP 137: The Assessment Trap: Why Most Concussion Clinicians Are Treating Before They Fully Understand What They're Treating
Ever wonder if that breakthrough treatment plan you handed your client on day one is actually keeping them stuck on a recovery plateau?
If you're a clinician treating complex or persistent concussions, chances are you've felt the self-imposed pressure to deliver an immediate treatment plan during your very first session. It's easy to catch an obvious symptom—like neck tension or a headache—and start treating it right away, assuming you've found the root of the problem.
The reality? When we rush to treat the most obvious symptom before seeing the entire picture, we end up treating a compensation mechanism rather than the actual driver. This "assessment trap" leads to plateaued progress, frustrated clients, and wasted clinical effort. To break this cycle, clinicians must shift away from chasing individual symptoms and commit to a complete, multi-system assessment—even if that means taking two full sessions to map out what's truly driving your patient's presentation.
(Note: This is a pre-recorded episode, and the Fired Up About Concussion event mentioned in the audio has concluded.)
BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:
What the "Assessment Trap" is and why clinician bias, educational conditioning, and patient pressure push us to treat too quickly.
Why symptoms like headaches are not drivers, and how subtle issues—like ocular instability or otolith dysfunction—can trigger cervical tension and dysautonomia.
The hidden connection of the myodural bridge and how suboccipital connective tissue impacts dural mobility and persistent neck pain.
How to implement the Two-Session Assessment Framework to set proper client expectations, eliminate first-visit pressure, and build a high-impact treatment plan that gets results.
Let's connect!
Instagram: @natasha.wilch https://www.instagram.com/natasha.wilch/
Email: hello@natashawilch.com
Website: https://www.natasha-wilch.com
Want to deepen your concussion assessment and treatment skills? Learn more about the Concussion Nerds Fellowship here: https://www.concussionnerds.com/concussion-nerds-fellowship
11 Oct 2026
EP 136: The Otolith Organs: The Most Underassessed Structure in Concussion Care
In this episode, we're taking a closer look at the otolith system, including the utricle and saccule, and how understanding their role can lead to more specific assessment and treatment. You'll learn what to look for when traditional vestibular testing doesn't fully explain a patient's symptoms and how to incorporate otolith screening into a more complete concussion assessment.
BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL LEARN:
How the otolith system supports balance, spatial orientation, eye stabilization, and postural control
Why otolith dysfunction can contribute to dizziness and symptoms with linear movement
The difference between utricle and saccule function and why it matters for rehabilitation
How to screen for otolith dysfunction using tools such as ocular counter-roll, skew deviation, subjective visual vertical, orthostatic vitals, and VEMP testing
A more complete vestibular assessment can help uncover the pieces of concussion recovery that are easy to miss.
Let's connect!
Instagram:
@natasha.wilch https://www.instagram.com/natasha.wilch/
Email: hello@natashawilch.com
Website: https://www.natasha-wilch.com
Want to deepen your concussion assessment and treatment skills? Learn more about the Concussion Nerds Fellowship here: https://www.concussionnerds.com/concussion-nerds-fellowship
28 Sept 2026
EP 135: Reading the Nervous System: What HRV, Heart Rate, and Autonomic Signals Are Actually Telling You in Clinical Practice
Why are your concussion clients still struggling even after their symptoms have completely vanished?
You might be making the common mistake of basing a client's return to play or recovery timeline solely on symptom resolution, completely missing the invisible physiological dysfunction happening underneath.
Even when patients feel better, their autonomic nervous system often remains stuck in a sympathetic-dominant state, leaving them vulnerable to secondary injuries and persistent fatigue. In this episode, we dive deep into the science of autonomic health, how to use Heart Rate Variability (HRV) as a window into real physiological healing, and why creating a "safety effect" in rehab changes everything.
BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:
What HRV actually measures and why it is the go-to biomarker for concussion research and autonomic health.
How concussions cause autonomic dysregulation that lags far behind symptom resolution.
Alternative ways to spot autonomic dysfunction during your sessions when you don't have fancy wearable tech.
How to build autonomic literacy with your clients to foster self-efficacy without letting wearable tech override how they actually feel.
Tune in to master the "chapter two" of complex concussion care and elevate your clinical outcomes!
Want to take your complex concussion care to the next level? Join Natasha for the free "Fired Up About Concussion" live event on October 1st at 4:00 PM Pacific to work through a live case and grab your spot for the fall cohort (limited to 25 clinicians).
Register here: https://www.natashawilch.com/fired-up-for-concussion
Who has been a guest on The Concussion Nerds Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Chris Garvin
Dr Trevor Colm
Dr Thompson Maesaka
Dr. Michelle Eisenmann
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
9 ratings
Spotify
4.8 / 5
21 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 73 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
96
Social presence
94
YouTube
0
Engagement
77
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