#post-concussion

When recovering from a concussion, most people expect headaches, fatigue, and perhaps some sensitivity to light or noise. These symptoms are uncomfortable but usually manageable and fade with time. However, not every post-concussion symptom is “normal.” Some warning signs—known as red flags—signal that something more serious may be happening. For Calabasas patients, knowing these red flags can make all the difference between a safe recovery and a potentially dangerous complication.

Why Red Flags Matter

A concussion is technically a mild traumatic brain injury, but “mild” does not mean insignificant. The brain is delicate, and even small injuries can have lasting effects. Recognizing post-concussion red flags allows patients and families to take action quickly, preventing complications and ensuring the right medical support is provided.

The Most Important Red Flags to Watch For

While every patient may feel different, here are the key red flags after a concussion:

Worsening Headaches: If headaches become more severe instead of gradually improving, this can indicate swelling or bleeding in the brain.

Persistent Vomiting: Nausea is common right after an injury, but repeated or worsening vomiting is a dangerous sign.

Seizures: Any seizure activity following a concussion requires immediate medical attention.

Weakness or Numbness: Loss of strength or sensation in arms, legs, or one side of the body can be a neurological emergency.

Slurred Speech or Confusion: Difficulty speaking or sudden changes in awareness can point to something more than a routine concussion.

Vision Problems: Blurred or double vision that doesn’t improve should never be ignored.

Mood or Personality Changes: While mood swings are possible, sudden aggression, depression, or major personality shifts may need specialist care.

What Calabasas Patients Should Do

If you or someone you love in Calabasas is showing any of these warning signs, the safest step is to get immediate medical evaluation. Emergency care may be needed, and follow-up with a concussion specialist ensures that long-term recovery is on track. It’s not enough to simply “wait it out.” PCS (post-concussion syndrome) can last for months if not addressed properly.

Where to Find Expert Help

Local patients seeking trusted neurological care can turn to California Brain & Spine. Their team specializes in concussion management, post-concussion syndrome, and advanced neurological rehabilitation. By recognizing red flags early and seeking expert guidance, patients give themselves the best chance for full recovery and reduced long-term complications.

Final Thoughts

Bit of chicken for dinner. Heat up the tatties closer to the time to serve alongside them. Marsy will get a bit of that as a nice treat, try and encourage him to nibble. He is asleep on the kid’s bed for now, ultra relaxed.

Pressups today, just sort of half-ones on the bed. Squats, body weight only. Want to go for a walk later, poke around.

Brain getting better. Noticing it’s easier / quicker to do puzzles. Pain spikes are fewer, easier to manage. Head pain has retreated for now. Kid continuing to read books.

New Post has been published on https://drdrewhall.com/concussion-mild-traumatic-brain-injuries/

Concussion & mild traumatic brain injuries

Mild traumatic brain injuries are also known as concussion. It’s projected that these traumas have an incidence of 3.8 million each year in the United States. Despite this high incidence, moderate traumatic brain injuries and concussions are among the least understood accidents within sports healthcare and the neuroscience communities.

The majority of patients sustaining a concussion have their symptoms resolve over 7–10 days. However, approximately 10–15% of these patients develop persistent symptomatology long lasting weeks, months or even years after injury. This chronic condition is known as post concussion syndrome. The patient is considered to be chronic when symptoms persist more than 4-12 weeks.

It’s assumed that  post concussion syndrome manifests secondary to brain injury resulting in alterations in brain biochemistry, neurophysiology, and metabolism; the challenge is assumed to be in the brain. But, four lines of information challenge this premise:

First Line of Proof The standard therapy for mild traumatic brain injury and the post concussion syndrome is rest. This approach works well for 85-90 percent of  patients, but maybe not for those suffering from the post concussion syndrome. This suggests that maybe an etiology aside from brain injury is responsible for the continuing symptomology.

Second Line of Proof There’s considerable overlap of these signs and symptoms of moderate traumatic brain injury and of whiplash associated disorders. This might indicate the possibility that the post concussion syndrome symptoms may in fact be originating from the cervical spine.

Signs and Symptoms of Concussion and Symptoms of Whiplash Associated Disorders

Pressure in Head

Headache

Neck pain

Neck/shoulder pain

Reduced/painful throat moves

Nausea

Vomiting

Dizziness

Balance problems

Dizziness

Unsteadiness

Blurred Vision

Sensitivity to moderate

Vision issues

Issue recalling

Confusion

Feeling Like “In a Fog”

Difficulty Concentrating

Memory problems

Problems Concentrating

Sensitivity to Noise

Ringing in Ears

Feeling Slowed Down

“Don’t Feel Right”

Nervous / Anxious / Irritable

Sadness / More Emotional

Fatigue / Low Energy /Drowsiness

Trouble Falling Asleep

Reduced/painful Jaw Movements

Numbness, Tingling or Pain in Arm or Hand

Numbness, Tingling or Pain in Leg or Foot

Difficulty Swallowing

Lower back pain

Injury to the cervical spine has been demonstrated to cause headaches, dizziness and loss of balance, nausea, visual and auditory disturbances, reduced cognitive functioning, and many other signs and symptoms considered synonymous with concussion.”

Post Concussion Syndrome Is Actually A Neck Injury?

Third Line of Proof There is a possibility that the forces necessary to cause a mild traumatic brain injury may also injure the soft tissues of the cervical spine. The range of linear impact accelerations resulting in concussion injury is between 60–160 G, together with the peak occurring at 96 G (5). Whiplash injuries can happen at accelerations of 4.5 G (6). Thus it’s highly likely that individuals who experience the G forces to maintain a concussion may even undergo cervical spine injury. In 2015, Cameron Marshall DC, Howard Vernon DC, John Leddy MD, and Bradley Baldwin DC printed a post in The Physician and Sportsmedicine, branded:

  The function of the Cervical Spine in Post Concussion Syndrome

A proposed mechanism for persisting symptomatology following concussion (the post concussion syndrome) is “concomitant low-grade sprain–strain injury of the cervical spine occurring simultaneously with significant head trauma.” “Any substantial blunt effect and/or acceleration/deceleration of the mind will also lead to a certain amount of inertial loading of the neck possibly resulting in pressure injuries to the soft tissues and joints of the spinal column.” “Acceleration/deceleration of the head–neck complex of sufficient size to induce mild traumatic brain injury can also be very likely to trigger irreparable harm to the joints and soft tissues of the spinal column.” It is “well established that injury and/or dysfunction of the cervical spine may lead to numerous signs and symptoms synonymous with concussion, including headaches, dizziness, in addition to cognitive and visual malfunction; making diagnosis difficult.” “The signs of headache and dizziness, so widespread in concussion-type injuries, may actually be the result of cervicogenic mechanisms because of a concomitant whiplash injury suffered at the exact same time.” It seems improbable, if not impossible, such as the forces required to generate a mild traumatic brain injury not to also cause an injury to the delicate tissues of the cervical spine.

  Fourth Line of Proof Anatomically and physiologically, the cervical spine is linked to the brain and brainstem.

Numerous brain stem structures receive mono-synaptic inputs from the C2 dorsal root ganglion afferents, such as:

Lateral cervical nucleus

Central cervical nucleus

Caudal projections to C5 degree

Cuneate nucleus, lateral cuneate nucleus

Nucleus tractus solitarius

Intercalatus nucleus

Nucleus X of the vestibular system

Trigemino-cervical nucleus (for aggravation nociception)

‘Cervicogenic Vertigo’ is “either [a] monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflex pathways in the upper cervical spine afferents (associated using a rich innervation from joint and muscle proprioceptors in the cervical spine) to the brainstem structures linked with equilibrium”  Cervical ocular and vestibular reflexes can “initiate equilibrium disturbances and symptoms related to this [post-concussive] issue. Cervicogenic headache was recognized for decades.

In 2006, researchers in the University of Guelph, Ontario, CAN, published a study in the journal Brain Injury, titled: Is there a relationship between whiplash-associated disorders and concussion in baseball? A preliminary research The authors analyzed the connection between the incidence of whiplash-associated ailments and concussion symptoms in hockey players. The research design was a prospective cohort observational research. Twenty hockey teams have been followed prospectively for a single season. Team therapists completed severe and 7-10 afternoon follow-up test questionnaires for all the players that received either a whiplash mechanism or a concussion. The authors found that basically all patients that received a whiplash-mechanism accident also sustained some degree of mild traumatic brain injury. Similarly, all patients that received a mild traumatic brain injury also showed signs of cervical spine injury.

Hope for Meniere’s Disease Sufferers

The authors concluded: There’s a strong association between induced neck injuries and the signs of concussion in baseball injuries.” “Both ought to be assessed when dealing with athletes/patients suffering from either injury.”

In 2013, researchers at the University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, CAN, published a study in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, titled: Preseason reports of neck pain, dizziness, and headache as risk factors for concussion in men youth hockey players The goal of this research was to determine the risk of concussion in youth male hockey players with preseason reports of neck pain, headaches, or dizziness. The authors pooled data from two prospective cohort studies. A total of 3,832 male ice hockey players aged 11 to 14 years (280 teams) engaged. Participants recorded baseline preseason symptoms of dizziness, neck pain, and headaches on the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool. Concussions that occurred during the entire year were recorded using a validated prospective injury surveillance system. The findings were as follows:

Preseason reports of neck pain and headache increased the risk of concussion.

Preseason nausea raised the risk of concussion.

A mixture of any two symptoms (neck pain, nausea, dizziness) increased the risk of concussion by 265%

The authors reasoned: “Male youth athletes reporting neck and headache pain at baseline were at an elevated risk of concussion during the season. The threat was associated with nausea as well as any 2 of dizziness, neck pain, or headaches.” The implication of this analysis is that athletes who have neck pain are at an increased risk for concussion. They indicate all  athletes should be identified ahead of the year.

How To Fix A Concussion – Blair Cervical Chiropractic

Four studies have concluded that injuries of the cervical spine are responsible to post-concussion syndrome, and have shown excellent clinical outcomes as a result of therapy to the cervical spinal column. In 1990, researchers from the Department of Rheumatology, County Hospital of Aarhus, Denmark, published a study in the journal Cephalalgia, branded: An open study comparing manual treatment with the use of cold packs in the treatment of post-traumatic aggravation

The authors used 19 patients who had sustained head trauma and that were still suffering from headaches one year after. These patients entered a potential clinical controlled trial to find out if specific manual treatment on the neck could lessen their headache. Ten patients have been treated twice with manual neck treatment and nine patients had been treated twice with cold packs around the neck. The pain index was calculated. Two weeks after the last treatment the mean pain index was significantly decreased to 43% in the group treated with manual therapy compared with the pretreatment level. At follow-up five weeks after, the pain index was lower in this category compared with the group treated with cold packs. The authors concluded:

“Manual therapy employed in this study seems to have a particular effect in reducing post-traumatic headache.” “The result supports the theory of a cervical mechanism causing post-traumatic headache and indicates that post-traumatic dizziness, visual disturbances and ear ailments may be part of a cervical syndrome”

In 1994, researchers in the Department of Physiotherapy, University of Queensland, Australia, published a study in the journal Cephalalgia, branded:

Cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction in post-concussion headache. The authors note, “persistent headache is a common symptom following a minor head injury or concussion, potentially linked to simultaneous harm of the structure of the cervical spine” This study quantified aspects of peripheral vascular function in a group of twelve patients with post-concussion headache and at a normal control group. The post-concussion headache group was distinguished from the control group from the presence of painful upper cervical segmental joint dysfunction, less endurance in the neck flexor muscles along with a higher prevalence of reasonably tight throat musculature. The authors concluded: “As upper cervical joint dysfunction is a feature of cervicogenic causes of aggravation, the results of the study encourage the addition of a precise physical examination of the cervical region in differential diagnosis of patients afflicted persistent headache after concussion.”

In 2014, researchers from the University of Calgary, Alberta, CAN, and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN, published a study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine:

Cervico-vestibular rehabilitation in sport-related concussion: A randomized controlled trial These authors note “concussion is a common injury in sports. Most individuals recover in 7-10 days but a few have persistent symptoms. The target of this research was to determine if a mix of vestibular rehabilitation and cervical spine physiotherapy diminished time until medical clearance in individuals with prolonged post-concussion symptoms.” This study was a randomized controlled trial. Consecutive patients with persistent symptoms of dizziness, neck pain or pain following a sport-related concussion (12-30 decades, 18 male and 13 female) were randomized to the intervention or control group.

What Does Upper Cervical Care Do?

Both teams received weekly sessions with a physiotherapist for 2 weeks or until the time of health clearance. Both groups obtained postural instruction, range of motion exercises and cognitive and bodily rest until asymptomatic followed by a protocol of graded exertion. The intervention group also obtained cervical spine and vestibular rehabilitation. The primary outcome of interest had been medical clearance to return to game, which was assessed by means of a study sport medicine doctor who had been blinded to the treatment team. In the therapy group, 73 percent of these participants were clinically cleared within 8 months of initiation of treatment, compared with 7% in the control group. The authors concluded: “A combo of peripheral and vestibular physiotherapy diminished time to medical clearance to return to game in childhood and young adults with persistent symptoms of dizziness, neck pain and/or headaches after having a sport-related concussion.”

In 2015, researchers from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College and State University of New York at Buffalo, published a study from the journal The Physician and Sports medicine, titled: The Role of the Cervical Spine at Post concussion Syndrome The signs of concussion are the result of neuronal dysfunction rather than because of structural damage of the neurons that are involved, which is “why traditional structural imaging methods such as CT and MRI are typically unremarkable.” This paper reviews the present literature surrounding the many proposed theories of post-concussive syndrome also introduces another potential, and quite treatable, reason for this chronic condition; cervical spine dysfunction because of concomitant whiplash-type injury. The writers talk about the cases of 5 patients with diagnosed post-concussive syndrome, who underwent very positive outcomes following various treatment and rehabilitative techniques aimed at restoring cervical spine function; therapy included spinal manipulation. These authors propose that a cervical injury, endured simultaneously at the time of the concussion, functions as a “major symptomatic culprit in several post-concussive syndrome patients.” These authors show 5 case studies of individuals diagnosed with post-concussive syndrome who were treated successfully at a chiropractic practice. Their improvement was rapid and documented using standard measurement outcomes, and the results were lasting. Treatment included:

Active Release Therapy (ART)

Localized vibration therapy within the affected muscles

Spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) of the limited joints

Low-velocity mobilizations (on 1 patient)

These authors conclude: “Management of persistent post-concussion symptoms through continuing brain rest is obsolete and demonstrates limited evidence of effectiveness in these patients.” “Rather, there is evidence that “proficient, manual therapy- related rehabilitation and assessment of cervical spinal dysfunction should be considered for chronic symptoms following concussion injuries.”

Explanations of the biological mechanisms for its improvement and resolution of the symptoms and signs of this post-concussive syndrome by treating the cervical spine typically involve the improvement of either cervical spine nociceptive or inserted input into the central neural axis . However, an alternative yet biologically plausible explanation was printed in 2011, and is explored below.

Upper Cervical Help Essential Tremors?

There is proof that the post-concussive syndrome symptoms are brought on by cerebral vasospasm, resulting in suboptimal generation of cerebral ATP. This cerebral vasospasm is brought on by increased sympathetic tone. Continued reductions in cerebral blood flow and oxygenation secondary to sympathetic nervous system malfunction is known as cerebral hypoperfusion. In 2011, researchers from the Division of Cyclotron Nuclear Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan, printed a unique study, showing the very best evidence to date evaluating the mechanism of chiropractic spinal adjusting (specific manipulations) into the cervical spine of human volunteers. Eight of the nine writers are credited with all the degrees MD and PhD. This guide is titled: Cerebral metabolic changes in men after chiropractic spinal manipulation for neck pain. The goal of the study was to investigate the effects of chiropractic spinal manipulation to brain reactions in terms of cerebral glucose metabolic changes. Additionally, measuring amounts of salivary amylase assessed sympathetic nervous system tone. The author used a sterile analog of glucose and detected its metabolism with positron emission tomography (PET). This is actually the very first chiropractic study to have examined regional cerebral metabolism and sympathetic nervous system tone and post spinal manipulation. The author reasoned, chiropractic spinal manipulation influences regional cerebral glucose metabolism related to sympathetic inhibition. This would have a profound effect on many aspects of post-concussive brain structure.

There’s substantial national focus on sports-related traumatic brain injury and the risks of future bronchial ailments. The movie Concussion was recently published, putting a face on the problem for the people at large. These studies are timely but upsetting. They highlight the lack of understanding by athletes, the general public, and health care providers it is basically impossible to sustain a traumatic brain injury without also damaging the soft tissues of the cervical spine. It’s anatomically/biologically probable these cervical spine accidents cause many, if not most, of these symptoms of the post-concussion syndrome. It’s also pleasing to have published studies demonstrating that traditional chiropractic management of post-concussive syndrome patients results in rapid and sustained improvement in post-concussive signs and symptoms, allowing the athlete to return to full competition. All patients afflicted by this post-concussive syndrome ought to be referred to a chiropractor for cervical spine evaluation and therapy.

Do You Have Chronic Neck Pain?

If You Suffer with Post Concussion Syndrome You Should See A Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractor

New Post has been published on https://drdrewhall.com/concussion-mild-traumatic-brain-injuries/

Concussion & mild traumatic brain injuries

Mild traumatic brain injuries are also known as concussion. It’s projected that these traumas have an incidence of 3.8 million each year in the United States. Despite this high incidence, moderate traumatic brain injuries and concussions are among the least understood accidents within sports healthcare and the neuroscience communities.

The majority of patients sustaining a concussion have their symptoms resolve over 7–10 days. However, approximately 10–15% of these patients develop persistent symptomatology long lasting weeks, months or even years after injury. This chronic condition is known as post concussion syndrome. The patient is considered to be chronic when symptoms persist more than 4-12 weeks.

It’s assumed that  post concussion syndrome manifests secondary to brain injury resulting in alterations in brain biochemistry, neurophysiology, and metabolism; the challenge is assumed to be in the brain. But, four lines of information challenge this premise:

First Line of Proof The standard therapy for mild traumatic brain injury and the post concussion syndrome is rest. This approach works well for 85-90 percent of  patients, but maybe not for those suffering from the post concussion syndrome. This suggests that maybe an etiology aside from brain injury is responsible for the continuing symptomology.

Second Line of Proof There’s considerable overlap of these signs and symptoms of moderate traumatic brain injury and of whiplash associated disorders. This might indicate the possibility that the post concussion syndrome symptoms may in fact be originating from the cervical spine.

Signs and Symptoms of Concussion and Symptoms of Whiplash Associated Disorders

Pressure in Head

Headache

Neck pain

Neck/shoulder pain

Reduced/painful throat moves

Nausea

Vomiting

Dizziness

Balance problems

Dizziness

Unsteadiness

Blurred Vision

Sensitivity to moderate

Vision issues

Issue recalling

Confusion

Feeling Like “In a Fog”

Difficulty Concentrating

Memory problems

Problems Concentrating

Sensitivity to Noise

Ringing in Ears

Feeling Slowed Down

“Don’t Feel Right”

Nervous / Anxious / Irritable

Sadness / More Emotional

Fatigue / Low Energy /Drowsiness

Trouble Falling Asleep

Reduced/painful Jaw Movements

Numbness, Tingling or Pain in Arm or Hand

Numbness, Tingling or Pain in Leg or Foot

Difficulty Swallowing

Lower back pain

Injury to the cervical spine has been demonstrated to cause headaches, dizziness and loss of balance, nausea, visual and auditory disturbances, reduced cognitive functioning, and many other signs and symptoms considered synonymous with concussion.”

Post Concussion Syndrome Is Actually A Neck Injury?

Third Line of Proof There is a possibility that the forces necessary to cause a mild traumatic brain injury may also injure the soft tissues of the cervical spine. The range of linear impact accelerations resulting in concussion injury is between 60–160 G, together with the peak occurring at 96 G (5). Whiplash injuries can happen at accelerations of 4.5 G (6). Thus it’s highly likely that individuals who experience the G forces to maintain a concussion may even undergo cervical spine injury. In 2015, Cameron Marshall DC, Howard Vernon DC, John Leddy MD, and Bradley Baldwin DC printed a post in The Physician and Sportsmedicine, branded:

  The function of the Cervical Spine in Post Concussion Syndrome

A proposed mechanism for persisting symptomatology following concussion (the post concussion syndrome) is “concomitant low-grade sprain–strain injury of the cervical spine occurring simultaneously with significant head trauma.” “Any substantial blunt effect and/or acceleration/deceleration of the mind will also lead to a certain amount of inertial loading of the neck possibly resulting in pressure injuries to the soft tissues and joints of the spinal column.” “Acceleration/deceleration of the head–neck complex of sufficient size to induce mild traumatic brain injury can also be very likely to trigger irreparable harm to the joints and soft tissues of the spinal column.” It is “well established that injury and/or dysfunction of the cervical spine may lead to numerous signs and symptoms synonymous with concussion, including headaches, dizziness, in addition to cognitive and visual malfunction; making diagnosis difficult.” “The signs of headache and dizziness, so widespread in concussion-type injuries, may actually be the result of cervicogenic mechanisms because of a concomitant whiplash injury suffered at the exact same time.” It seems improbable, if not impossible, such as the forces required to generate a mild traumatic brain injury not to also cause an injury to the delicate tissues of the cervical spine.

  Fourth Line of Proof Anatomically and physiologically, the cervical spine is linked to the brain and brainstem.

Numerous brain stem structures receive mono-synaptic inputs from the C2 dorsal root ganglion afferents, such as:

Lateral cervical nucleus

Central cervical nucleus

Caudal projections to C5 degree

Cuneate nucleus, lateral cuneate nucleus

Nucleus tractus solitarius

Intercalatus nucleus

Nucleus X of the vestibular system

Trigemino-cervical nucleus (for aggravation nociception)

‘Cervicogenic Vertigo’ is “either [a] monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflex pathways in the upper cervical spine afferents (associated using a rich innervation from joint and muscle proprioceptors in the cervical spine) to the brainstem structures linked with equilibrium”  Cervical ocular and vestibular reflexes can “initiate equilibrium disturbances and symptoms related to this [post-concussive] issue. Cervicogenic headache was recognized for decades.

In 2006, researchers in the University of Guelph, Ontario, CAN, published a study in the journal Brain Injury, titled: Is there a relationship between whiplash-associated disorders and concussion in baseball? A preliminary research The authors analyzed the connection between the incidence of whiplash-associated ailments and concussion symptoms in hockey players. The research design was a prospective cohort observational research. Twenty hockey teams have been followed prospectively for a single season. Team therapists completed severe and 7-10 afternoon follow-up test questionnaires for all the players that received either a whiplash mechanism or a concussion. The authors found that basically all patients that received a whiplash-mechanism accident also sustained some degree of mild traumatic brain injury. Similarly, all patients that received a mild traumatic brain injury also showed signs of cervical spine injury.

Hope for Meniere’s Disease Sufferers

The authors concluded: There’s a strong association between induced neck injuries and the signs of concussion in baseball injuries.” “Both ought to be assessed when dealing with athletes/patients suffering from either injury.”

In 2013, researchers at the University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, CAN, published a study in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, titled: Preseason reports of neck pain, dizziness, and headache as risk factors for concussion in men youth hockey players The goal of this research was to determine the risk of concussion in youth male hockey players with preseason reports of neck pain, headaches, or dizziness. The authors pooled data from two prospective cohort studies. A total of 3,832 male ice hockey players aged 11 to 14 years (280 teams) engaged. Participants recorded baseline preseason symptoms of dizziness, neck pain, and headaches on the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool. Concussions that occurred during the entire year were recorded using a validated prospective injury surveillance system. The findings were as follows:

Preseason reports of neck pain and headache increased the risk of concussion.

Preseason nausea raised the risk of concussion.

A mixture of any two symptoms (neck pain, nausea, dizziness) increased the risk of concussion by 265%

The authors reasoned: “Male youth athletes reporting neck and headache pain at baseline were at an elevated risk of concussion during the season. The threat was associated with nausea as well as any 2 of dizziness, neck pain, or headaches.” The implication of this analysis is that athletes who have neck pain are at an increased risk for concussion. They indicate all  athletes should be identified ahead of the year.

How To Fix A Concussion – Blair Cervical Chiropractic

Four studies have concluded that injuries of the cervical spine are responsible to post-concussion syndrome, and have shown excellent clinical outcomes as a result of therapy to the cervical spinal column. In 1990, researchers from the Department of Rheumatology, County Hospital of Aarhus, Denmark, published a study in the journal Cephalalgia, branded: An open study comparing manual treatment with the use of cold packs in the treatment of post-traumatic aggravation

The authors used 19 patients who had sustained head trauma and that were still suffering from headaches one year after. These patients entered a potential clinical controlled trial to find out if specific manual treatment on the neck could lessen their headache. Ten patients have been treated twice with manual neck treatment and nine patients had been treated twice with cold packs around the neck. The pain index was calculated. Two weeks after the last treatment the mean pain index was significantly decreased to 43% in the group treated with manual therapy compared with the pretreatment level. At follow-up five weeks after, the pain index was lower in this category compared with the group treated with cold packs. The authors concluded:

“Manual therapy employed in this study seems to have a particular effect in reducing post-traumatic headache.” “The result supports the theory of a cervical mechanism causing post-traumatic headache and indicates that post-traumatic dizziness, visual disturbances and ear ailments may be part of a cervical syndrome”

In 1994, researchers in the Department of Physiotherapy, University of Queensland, Australia, published a study in the journal Cephalalgia, branded:

Cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction in post-concussion headache. The authors note, “persistent headache is a common symptom following a minor head injury or concussion, potentially linked to simultaneous harm of the structure of the cervical spine” This study quantified aspects of peripheral vascular function in a group of twelve patients with post-concussion headache and at a normal control group. The post-concussion headache group was distinguished from the control group from the presence of painful upper cervical segmental joint dysfunction, less endurance in the neck flexor muscles along with a higher prevalence of reasonably tight throat musculature. The authors concluded: “As upper cervical joint dysfunction is a feature of cervicogenic causes of aggravation, the results of the study encourage the addition of a precise physical examination of the cervical region in differential diagnosis of patients afflicted persistent headache after concussion.”

In 2014, researchers from the University of Calgary, Alberta, CAN, and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN, published a study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine:

Cervico-vestibular rehabilitation in sport-related concussion: A randomized controlled trial These authors note “concussion is a common injury in sports. Most individuals recover in 7-10 days but a few have persistent symptoms. The target of this research was to determine if a mix of vestibular rehabilitation and cervical spine physiotherapy diminished time until medical clearance in individuals with prolonged post-concussion symptoms.” This study was a randomized controlled trial. Consecutive patients with persistent symptoms of dizziness, neck pain or pain following a sport-related concussion (12-30 decades, 18 male and 13 female) were randomized to the intervention or control group.

What Does Upper Cervical Care Do?

Both teams received weekly sessions with a physiotherapist for 2 weeks or until the time of health clearance. Both groups obtained postural instruction, range of motion exercises and cognitive and bodily rest until asymptomatic followed by a protocol of graded exertion. The intervention group also obtained cervical spine and vestibular rehabilitation. The primary outcome of interest had been medical clearance to return to game, which was assessed by means of a study sport medicine doctor who had been blinded to the treatment team. In the therapy group, 73 percent of these participants were clinically cleared within 8 months of initiation of treatment, compared with 7% in the control group. The authors concluded: “A combo of peripheral and vestibular physiotherapy diminished time to medical clearance to return to game in childhood and young adults with persistent symptoms of dizziness, neck pain and/or headaches after having a sport-related concussion.”

In 2015, researchers from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College and State University of New York at Buffalo, published a study from the journal The Physician and Sports medicine, titled: The Role of the Cervical Spine at Post concussion Syndrome The signs of concussion are the result of neuronal dysfunction rather than because of structural damage of the neurons that are involved, which is “why traditional structural imaging methods such as CT and MRI are typically unremarkable.” This paper reviews the present literature surrounding the many proposed theories of post-concussive syndrome also introduces another potential, and quite treatable, reason for this chronic condition; cervical spine dysfunction because of concomitant whiplash-type injury. The writers talk about the cases of 5 patients with diagnosed post-concussive syndrome, who underwent very positive outcomes following various treatment and rehabilitative techniques aimed at restoring cervical spine function; therapy included spinal manipulation. These authors propose that a cervical injury, endured simultaneously at the time of the concussion, functions as a “major symptomatic culprit in several post-concussive syndrome patients.” These authors show 5 case studies of individuals diagnosed with post-concussive syndrome who were treated successfully at a chiropractic practice. Their improvement was rapid and documented using standard measurement outcomes, and the results were lasting. Treatment included:

Active Release Therapy (ART)

Localized vibration therapy within the affected muscles

Spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) of the limited joints

Low-velocity mobilizations (on 1 patient)

These authors conclude: “Management of persistent post-concussion symptoms through continuing brain rest is obsolete and demonstrates limited evidence of effectiveness in these patients.” “Rather, there is evidence that “proficient, manual therapy- related rehabilitation and assessment of cervical spinal dysfunction should be considered for chronic symptoms following concussion injuries.”

Explanations of the biological mechanisms for its improvement and resolution of the symptoms and signs of this post-concussive syndrome by treating the cervical spine typically involve the improvement of either cervical spine nociceptive or inserted input into the central neural axis . However, an alternative yet biologically plausible explanation was printed in 2011, and is explored below.

Upper Cervical Help Essential Tremors?

There is proof that the post-concussive syndrome symptoms are brought on by cerebral vasospasm, resulting in suboptimal generation of cerebral ATP. This cerebral vasospasm is brought on by increased sympathetic tone. Continued reductions in cerebral blood flow and oxygenation secondary to sympathetic nervous system malfunction is known as cerebral hypoperfusion. In 2011, researchers from the Division of Cyclotron Nuclear Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan, printed a unique study, showing the very best evidence to date evaluating the mechanism of chiropractic spinal adjusting (specific manipulations) into the cervical spine of human volunteers. Eight of the nine writers are credited with all the degrees MD and PhD. This guide is titled: Cerebral metabolic changes in men after chiropractic spinal manipulation for neck pain. The goal of the study was to investigate the effects of chiropractic spinal manipulation to brain reactions in terms of cerebral glucose metabolic changes. Additionally, measuring amounts of salivary amylase assessed sympathetic nervous system tone. The author used a sterile analog of glucose and detected its metabolism with positron emission tomography (PET). This is actually the very first chiropractic study to have examined regional cerebral metabolism and sympathetic nervous system tone and post spinal manipulation. The author reasoned, chiropractic spinal manipulation influences regional cerebral glucose metabolism related to sympathetic inhibition. This would have a profound effect on many aspects of post-concussive brain structure.

There’s substantial national focus on sports-related traumatic brain injury and the risks of future bronchial ailments. The movie Concussion was recently published, putting a face on the problem for the people at large. These studies are timely but upsetting. They highlight the lack of understanding by athletes, the general public, and health care providers it is basically impossible to sustain a traumatic brain injury without also damaging the soft tissues of the cervical spine. It’s anatomically/biologically probable these cervical spine accidents cause many, if not most, of these symptoms of the post-concussion syndrome. It’s also pleasing to have published studies demonstrating that traditional chiropractic management of post-concussive syndrome patients results in rapid and sustained improvement in post-concussive signs and symptoms, allowing the athlete to return to full competition. All patients afflicted by this post-concussive syndrome ought to be referred to a chiropractor for cervical spine evaluation and therapy.

Do You Have Chronic Neck Pain?

If You Suffer with Post Concussion Syndrome You Should See A Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractor

New Post has been published on https://drdrewhall.com/post-concussion-syndrome-healing-recovery/

Post Concussion Syndrome Healing and Recovery

Our office in the greater Los Angeles area has been seeing a large number of post concussion syndrome cases over this past year. Patients and families are starting to discover that the head neck relationship is part of the puzzle that can help one recover from the after effects a concussion. It’s is clear that the forces involved in a concussion damage the brain, the structure of the neck and sometimes the inner ear. There are many different avenues that are helpful for those seeking help.

We have found that the combination of four natural therapies proven successful in a large percentage of post concussion cases. Below we have listed and briefly explain each discipline and give several testimonial recoveries of patients through our Los Angeles offices.

“ I played competitive hockey when living in New Jersey and suffered from three separate concussion injuries. The last injury ended my career and left me with post concussion syndrome symptoms. Regular medical care did little to help me recover and as a consequence I sought out alternative care. A regular chiropractor eased my symptoms and helped tremendously. In fact I moved to California to go to chiropractic school. Once I moved out to California and no longer had the chiro I was seeing my symptoms returned. I sought out care with Dr. Hall. Almost immediately I improved. Within six months I had my life back. The best part about the Blair upper cervical technique is its goal is to restore health not treat symptoms. I have held my adjustment for over one year and now can do all the things I enjoyed before my injury!!”

Four things you must look into to heal your post concussion syndrome naturally!

Vestibular and visual rehab

Nutritional/ diet change

Psychological counseling support

Upper cervical chiropractic care

Vestibular Rehab

Dizziness is one of the most common complaints of patients with persistent symptoms following concussion. This may be the result of several overlapping problems with the balance centers in the brain, the visual system, and/or problems with the muscle and joint sensors in the neck caused by atlas or axis spinal misalignment.

Visual system deficits can be one cause of ongoing cognitive deficits which can underlie complaints of cognitive problems. Often times patients with these impairments find they have to re read paragraphs several times before comprehension. This may be due an imbalance in eye tracking and movement which affects comprehension. Testing for each of these areas requires knowledge of each of the systems and how each interacts.

There is plenty of research indicating thorough assessment of the oculomotor and vestibular systems and following certain “eye exercises” can have profound positive effects on vertigo and cognition.1

Following a thorough assessment of these areas a proper rehabilitation program can be set up.

Nutritional and diet modifications

Any injury produces inflammation in the tissues that are injured. Concussions cause brain injury and soft tissue injury in the cervical spine. As a result there are several steps you should take to help your body heal and repair damaged tissues. During the initial stages it is imperative that individual get plenty of rest. PCs patients often feel much worse with the slightest activities. Rest cannot be underestimated in recovery.

A diet that is low in inflammation causing foods is advised. Foods such as sugar , refined carbohydrates, red meats, pasta and grains are highly inflammatory. Reducing them can aide in your bodies recovery. Eating more fruits, vegetables, fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids (fresh caught salmon, mackeral) and good fats such as coconut oil, avocado oil, and flax oil can be helpful.

Counseling and support

Suffering from a chronic condition such as Post concussion syndrome can be emotionally challenging. It is important to realize that there is help out there. You are not alone and it is normal to be frustrated and exasperated at your predicament. Realizing that there are many things that you can do to help yourself get well can often be  empowering. Education on your condition and being proactive in your recovery is essential to healing.  Search out people that suffer with post concussion that have recovered. Surround yourself by people that have recovered and search out the doctors that have helped them! The do the same thing they have.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care

The fourth thing you can do in your quest for recovery is seek out a blair upper cervical chiropractor. Our Los Angeles office has seen well over 150 post concussion cases. Because concussion injuries damage the head neck junction and the brain stem runs through this anatomical region, it is imperative to correct it.

The brain-stem is housed by the lower skull, c-1 (atlas) and c-2 (axis). If these two bones become misaligned they can severe consequences on the central nervous systems ability to coordinate normal function. Vertigo, neck pain, cognitive deficits, insomnia and other symptoms can be attributed to spinal misalignment in the upper cervical spine.

Blair upper cervical chiropractors are specially trained to determine whether you suffer from an atlas or axis misalignment. If discovered they are also specially trained in determining exactly how it has misaligned. This is done through digital x-ray or Cbct imaging. Once located a precise spinal Corte Yoon is made with zero popping or twisting of the neck. The patient is then monitored over time to ensure the spinal correction is holding and the body is progressing and recovering.

Here is another review from a patient in our Los Angeles office who recently recovered from post concussion syndrome:

“This review is long overdue. I made an appointment with Dr. Hall about 7 months ago in a desperate attempt to get relief from the post concussion syndrome that I had been suffering from for 3 months and I’m beyond grateful that I found him and his wonderful staff. The other doctors I saw before him were of little help and just told me to wait it out but my symptoms were getting progressively worse as time went on.

I felt like I was floating and was so dizzy that I couldn’t drive. I was having terrible headaches, memory problems, light sensitivity and was unable to sleep for more than a couple hours a night. And the list goes on. My days were pretty much spent hiding in my room with all the lights off. I was barely functioning and terrified that I would never get better. And if it wasn’t for Dr. Hall I’m honestly not sure that I would have.

I had an adjustment during my first appointment and it wasn’t until that night that I noticed the real difference. I slept for 15 hours straight, which was absolutely unheard of for me. Over the next couple months my symptoms drastically improved and I started to be able to live normally again. I wouldn’t have been able to get my quality of life back without Dr. Hall’s treatment and support. I cannot recommend him enough, he’s a life changer!”

References

New Post has been published on https://drdrewhall.com/post-concussion-sindrome-overview/