Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine >
  • ... >
  • About Us >
  • Patient Stories >
  • Sports Medicine >
  • Concussion >
  • Everyday Active People
Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
About Us
Patient Stories
General Orthopaedics
Joint Replacement
Sports Medicine
ACL Program
Athletic Training
Concussion
Professional Athletes
Collegiate Athletes
Young Athletes
Everyday Active People
Performance Services
Physician Services
Sports Nutrition
Orthopaedic Surgery
Your Care Team
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
For Patients
For Professionals & Students
Our Locations
Contact Us
Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
About Us
Patient Stories
General Orthopaedics
Joint Replacement
Sports Medicine
ACL Program
Athletic Training
Concussion
Professional Athletes
Collegiate Athletes
Young Athletes
Everyday Active People
Performance Services
Physician Services
Sports Nutrition
Orthopaedic Surgery
Your Care Team
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
For Patients
For Professionals & Students
Our Locations
Contact Us

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Everyday Active People Concussion Program Patient Stories

Amelia: Concussion

Image of Amelia.

After getting hit in the head with a medicine ball during a workout, Amelia didn't feel right. The normally busy wife and mother could no longer function. Learn how her trip from Australia to the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program helped her get her life back.

Read Amelia's story

Cindy: Concussion

Cindy Henderson UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program patient.

When Cindy sustained her third concussion in June 2023, and she turned to rest like she had for prior concussions, she wasn’t getting better. The UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program’s active approach got her back to golfing, hiking, traveling, volunteering, and overall just feeling like herself again.

Read Cindy Henderson's story

Daniel: Concussion

Image of daniel.

Daniel was rushing to pick up his kids from preschool when he walked into a street pole and hit his left temple. For more than a year, he suffered from disabling concussion symptoms and struggled to find relief from doctors at home. Finally, he found Micky Collins, PhD, online and came to Pittsburgh to receive the treatment that would save his life.

Read Daniel's story

Daren: Concussion

Image of Daren.

A crash during a vintage car race left Daren with four broken ribs and a concussion. But a referral from his football player nephew led him to the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program. Learn how our experts taught Daren what his concussion meant and helped him overcome it to get back to work and racing.

Read Daren's story

Emmett: Concussion

Image of Emmett.

A fall down the stairs in October 2014 landed Emmett, 62, in the hospital. After doctors cleared and released him just two days later, he felt that he was okay to return to his normal routine. But more than six months of troubling symptoms ensued before Emmett found our concussion experts and got his life back.

Read Emmett's story

Flora’s Story: Danish College Student Finds Hope — and Help — at UPMC Sports Medicine

Photo of Flora Schmelling.

A yearlong struggle with disabling concussion symptoms upended Flora’s studies and her life. The Danish college student made it her mission to come to Pittsburgh for treatment after a Google search led her to an inspiring story about a Swedish concert promoter who went to the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program for care.

Read Flora Schmelling's story

John: Concussion

When a fall from horseback resulted in a concussion, John sought local treatment. But after a month, he still wasn’t getting better. That’s when he scheduled a telemedicine appointment with the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program. Learn how after just two appointments, John was back to his routine and feeling like himself again – without ever leaving his home state.

Read John's story

Josh: Concussion

Image of Josh.

While jumping on the trampoline with his kids, Josh felt a jolt that seemed to shake his brain in his skull. In a fog and unable to find relief for months, he and his family traveled home from their nonprofit work in Thailand. They eventually made their way to UPMC where exertion and behavioral therapy helped Josh recover.

Read Josh's story

Karen: Concussion

Image of Karen.

Two concussions, and the prolonged migraines that came with them, led Karen to quit her job and stay in bed. But when UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program experts prescribed active treatment, Karen slowly began to improve. Read on to learn how concussion treatment at UPMC gave Karen her life back.

Read Karen's story

Kevin: Concussion

Image of Kevin.

After suffering a concussion, Kevin struggled with symptoms for two years looking for answers. When he found a UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion program testimonial online, he called immediately, and that’s when it all changed. Find out how the expert team identified Kevin’s concussion and provided an at-home treatment plan to help get him on the right track.

Read Kevin's story

Mads: Concussion

Mads Ellesøe

Danish journalist and filmmaker Mads Ellesøe spent time embedded with troops in Afghanistan, filmed child soldiers in Africa, and rode out Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. But nothing prepared him for the fear and confusion he faced while dealing with the debilitating effects of a concussion. Learn how Mads found the care he needed through the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program.

Read Mads Ellesøe's story

Sarah's Story: How the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program Changed the Life of an Oscar-Winning Writer and Director

Sarah Polley

More than three years after a fire extinguisher fell on her head, Canadian screenwriter-director and former actor and child star Sarah Polley was still struggling with crippling concussion symptoms. Learn how Sarah made a full recovery — and won an Oscar® for Women Talking — after receiving care from Michael “Micky” Collins, PhD, at the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program.

Read Sarah Polley's story

Shelagh's Story: Taking Action to Overcome Vestibular/Ocular Concussion

Image of Shelagh

After collapsing from meningitis-induced weakness and striking her head, Shelagh suffered from a concussion. Learn more about her experience at UPMC.

Read Shelagh's story

Walter's Story: A Team Approach to Complete Concussion Care

Image of Walter

Weeks of failed treatments and worsening symptoms led Walter to search for positive concussion stories online. That's when he found the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion program, engaged in an active treatment approach, and finally got his life back.

Read Walter's story

Zack’s Story: Canadian College Student Finds Concussion Relief

Image of Zack

After a long journey to the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, experts diagnosed Zack with a vestibular concussion and prescribed an active treatment plan which consisted of gradual exposure to stimuli to retrain the brain to adapt to the sights, sounds, and activities of daily life. Learn how an individualized treatment plan helped Zack on his way to recovery.

Read Zack's story

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login