Concussions

A concussion, also referred to as a traumatic brain injury, is a serious and increasingly common condition. It often occurs when an individual experiences a sudden impact to the head, such as during a car accident or sports injury. This force causes the brain to shift abruptly within the cranial cavity, potentially colliding with the skull. Such an event can result in direct damage to brain tissue, including the tearing of stabilizing fibers between the brain and skull, bruising of brain tissue, or even the tearing of arteries. The effects of a concussion can vary widely depending on the area of the brain affected. Common symptoms include prolonged dizziness, confusion, headaches, blurred vision, nausea, emotional disturbances, sleep difficulties, and trouble with focus or mental clarity.

An impact strong enough to cause a concussion is often strong enough to result in neck injuries as well. Research by Ellis et al. (Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 2018) highlights the significant impact of this combination. Patients who experience both a concussion and a neck injury typically take, on average, 10 additional days to achieve clinical recovery compared to those with a concussion alone. Furthermore, these patients are four times more likely to experience persistent symptoms beyond 30 days, emphasizing the critical need for addressing both the concussion and the associated neck injury during recovery.

Any head trauma is neck trauma. Recent research shows further involvement of the cervical spine in post-concussive type injuries. The impact of a head injury will mostly affect the area of instability (upper neck). The skull bones are fused together, so the closest articulation that is available to absorb the impact through movement is the Upper Cervical Spine. This area is also known as the Cranio-Cervical Junction (C1 Atlas & C2 Axis vertebra). These misalignments can affect drainage of fluids out of the skull and blood flow into the brainstem, as well as cause direct pressure on nerves and other tissues. Most importantly, it will affect how the brain heals from a concussion.

Again, any head trauma is also a neck trauma. Our Doctors at Pierce Clinic are experts in identifying these upper cervical misalignments and correcting them using the gentle, non-invasive Advanced Orthogonal (AdvO) technique. By removing the interference, the brain is able to heal as efficiently and completely as possible. This type of intervention is critical to making a complete recovery after a concussion.