Concussion

Concussion

Concussions have become a popular topic in the sports injury world.  They can be very debilitating, resulting in headaches, dizziness, balance problems, issues with concentration, or difficulty controlling eye movements. If they are severe, they can often necessitate taking time away from both sports and daily activities.

The good news is, in 80-90% of people who sustain a concussion, their symptoms will resolve within 7-10 days if they rest and avoid re-injury. However, this means there are still many people who will continue to have symptoms after this period of time.

One possible explanation for this is that with every concussion injury, there is an associated whiplash injury; if there is enough force to cause concussion, there is enough force to injure your neck. Whiplash injuries can result in all of the above symptoms, and thus can be difficult to distinguish from concussion symptoms. While these symptoms of concussion should generally resolve within a couple of weeks, whiplash symptoms can last for a year or longer if left untreated. Therefore, even if you are not currently experiencing neck pain, you should get checked by a qualified professional if your concussion symptoms haven’t resolved in the expected amount of time.

Chiropractors specialize in evaluating and treating injuries such as whiplash and concussion. They know how to assess for neurological signs and biomechanical dysfunctions that may be contributing to your symptoms. Treatments may include spinal adjustments or mobilizations, soft tissue therapy for the affected muscles and nerves, acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, prescription of exercises, or nutritional advice.