Rhea is a new approach to treat a concussion and other brain health conditions. We’ve developed a comprehensive rehabilitation platform that uses a unique Active Recovery strategy to help people recover from concussion and other brain health conditions.

When we talk about brain health, we’re describing a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing achieved through developing and exercising the brain. Our digital platform provides a personalized rehabilitation plan that focuses on movement exercises combined with insights and support from a range of healthcare professionals. You don’t need any special equipment to follow your recovery plan. Rhea is a browser-based platform that can be accessed on your smartphone, desktop or smart TV.

Watch our video to see Rhea in action.

Rhea was developed by a clinical research team at the University of Toronto, an internationally renowned research institution in concussion and brain health. In collaboration with some of the world’s leading experts in concussion and neuroscience, we developed a new approach to treating a concussion and other brain health conditions that uses specific movements and strategies to advance the healing process.

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It’s a new approach to treating a concussion and other brain health conditions that is now becoming the accepted and preferred method of treatment. Traditional ‘passive’ recovery methods for treating a concussion typically involve rest, limiting exposure to loud noises, bright lights, screens, and other activities that are thought to worsen symptoms.

While there is nothing ‘wrong’ with these approaches, several published studies have shown the benefits of structured activity for treating a concussion. Rhea’s Active Recovery approach has been shown to reduce symptoms and help people recover faster. It’s also widely accessible and requires no special equipment or experience.

Rhea’s Active Recovery approach is based on the latest science and covers areas from many aspects of rehabilitation and wellbeing focusing on movement exercises, sleep hygiene, the neck and vision, as well as breathing exercises to help individuals recover. Typically, individuals experience fewer symptoms and recover faster than with other common approaches to treating a concussion.

Historically, the clinical management of concussion has focused on rest following a concussion. The objective was physical and cognitive rest until the individual was symptom-free, in order to ease discomfort from post-concussion symptoms and possibly promote recovery by decreasing energy demands on the brain. While this approach isn’t necessarily ‘wrong’, the Active Recovery approach has been shown to help people recover faster and more fully.

If you have a diagnosed concussion, you can get started with Rhea straight away. When you sign up online, we’ll ask some basic questions about your symptoms and give you the option of connecting with your activity tracker (e.g. Apple Watch or Fitbit). Depending on where you are in your recovery path and your concussion symptoms, we provide you with the first phase of your Active Recovery program.

Your personalized program includes proactive daily exercises, instructional videos, and supportive educational strategies. We’ll monitor your progress and automatically update your program until you’ve recovered. You’ll also have access to expert support at any time during your recovery from our network of healthcare providers.

Watch our video to see Rhea in action.

Rhea tailors your exercises to match your stage of progress and symptoms. Healing from a concussion is different from healing a broken bone – there are stages of progression based on passing previous stages, rather than a set healing time. Your program will guide you through a series of exercises including structured aerobic activity and potentially a combination of vision, balance, and neck exercises. After successfully completing the initial stages, Rhea progressively increases physical activity with added components of head acceleration, sensory stimulation, and cognitive burden eventually leading to a full recovery.

Yes, you can use Rhea to recover on your own at home. However, Rhea is not an online concussion test and does not diagnose concussions. If you think you might have a concussion, you should see a health professional for a diagnosis before using Rhea. You can then use Rhea to monitor your symptoms between appointments and record key recovery milestones. Rhea will automatically adjust your rehabilitation depending on your progress. We still recommend regular check-ins with your healthcare team.

Not necessarily. However, concussion is a complex condition and should be diagnosed by a healthcare professional. Depending on your symptoms and how you are progressing towards recovery, we may recommend you see a doctor or other specialist should you have difficulty recovering. Rhea can be used to help speed up recovery and record progress and changes between in-person appointments.

Depending on how up-to-date the doctor is with the latest science, the treatment advice may vary from doctor to doctor. The traditional approach is to recommend rest, limiting exposure to loud noises, bright lights, screens, and other activities that are thought to worsen symptoms. However, the latest concussion research suggests that Active Recovery can help people recover faster and more fully, and many doctors are now using this approach to treat concussions.

Research shows that some people with concussions will get better with little or no treatment. However, at the time of diagnosis, it’s unknown who these rapid recovery cases will be. What we do know is that leaving a concussion untreated and being inactive after a brain injury could put you at risk of developing a long-term disability or post-concussion syndrome.

Research also suggests that inactivity can exacerbate or prolong recovery in some brain health conditions such as depression. Some individuals are vulnerable to the negative effects of prolonged rest with respect to physical deconditioning, as well as the secondary symptoms arising from fatigue and depressive symptoms.

Pricing details will be announced when Rhea launches. Access to the platform for one year will include a personalized Active Recovery program, access to instructional videos and our online resources, and a network of physicians and specialists familiar with Rhea who can offer additional support. We also provide useful recommendations and activities to avoid concussions and promote healthy habits in the future.

Rhea is an eligible medical expense for Healthcare Spending reimbursement, but please check with your plan to ensure you have coverage. You can find reimbursement information for plans here.

Yes. You can use Rhea alongside other specialist treatments to recover from a concussion. You’ll have a network of concussion specialists who are familiar with Rhea and our Active Recovery approach. Alternatively, you can see a specialist of your choosing outside of the platform.

On average most people take approximately three to four weeks to fully return to all activities, but a percentage of individuals (10-20%) have symptoms from many weeks to months.

However, recovery from a concussion is individualized and assessed on a case-by-case basis. Predicting recovery time for a concussion is challenging, given the unique nature of the injury. Rhea uses a stepwise progression to gradually help people return to school, physical activity, and social life. Your progression is not based on time but based on your response (symptoms and performance) to concussion treatment.

Rhea is currently available in North America for treating concussions. In the future, we plan to use the Active Recovery approach to treat other brain health conditions.

Research has shown that Rhea’s Active Recovery approach is effective at treating concussions. However, concussion is a complex condition and, depending on your symptoms and how you are progressing towards recovery, we may recommend you see a doctor or other specialist if you continue to experience difficulties.