Healing Minds and Bodies: Chiropractic Care for Concussion Recovery

Concussions are a common yet often underestimated injury, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you're an athlete, a busy professional, or simply someone who has had a fall or accident, concussions can have a profound impact on your physical and mental well-being. While rest and medical supervision are crucial aspects of concussion recovery, chiropractic care can be a valuable complementary therapy in concussion recovery. 

Understanding Concussions

Before delving into the benefits of chiropractic care, it's essential to understand what a concussion is. A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) that occurs when the brain experiences a sudden and forceful impact, such as a blow to the head (Cade, A., & Turnbull, P. R., 2022). This can result from various situations, including sports-related injuries, car accidents, falls, or even workplace accidents.

Concussions often manifest with symptoms like headaches, visual problems, dizziness, memory problems, sensitivity to light and noise, mood changes, and difficulty concentrating. The road to recovery can be challenging, with symptoms that can often stick around for week, months or even years. 

Can chiropractic care help with concussions?

In short; yes. More and more research is surfacing in relation to the many ways' chiropractic care can help with concussions. But besides the formal research, we see first hand in practice that chiropractic care is able to help concussion recovery. 

• Reduce dysfunction in the upper back, neck and skull: 

   Many concussion patients also experience neck and upper spine dysfunction due to the forceful impact. Chiropractors are trained to identify and facilitate in the correction these dysfunctional segments through gentle adjustments. By restoring proper function to these segments, patients often report improved motion of their head and neck. 

• Alleviation of Headache and Neck Pain:

   Headaches and neck pain are common concussion symptoms. Chiropractic adjustments can relieve tension and pressure in the neck and upper spine, providing much-needed relief from these discomforts.
  

• Improved Blood Flow and Healing:

   Chiropractic care can enhance blood flow to the brain, and promote movement of cerebral spinal fluid around the skull- which is vital for the brain's natural healing process. Improved circulation can help reduce inflammation and support the body's recovery efforts.
  

• Enhanced Balance and Coordination:

   Concussions can disrupt the body's balance and coordination, through disconnecting the nerve systems processing of environmental information. Chiropractic adjustments can help improve these aspects by addressing any dysfunctional segments, helping your brain to process your environment better.

• Personalized Rehabilitation Plans:

   Each concussion is different, therefore each one needs its own individulised plan of care. In our practice we ensure that each individual gets a plan with frequency, intensity and exercises that are right for them. 

Summing it up

Concussion recovery is a journey that requires time, patience, and comprehensive care. Chiropractic care can be a valuable complementary therapy that addresses the physical aspects of a concussion's impact on the body. By seeking the expertise of a chiropractor experienced in concussion management, individuals can enhance their chances of a smoother and more complete recovery, regaining their physical and mental well-being.

A multidisciplinary approach that combines medical guidance, rest, and supportive therapies like chiropractic care can pave the way for a more thorough and successful concussion recovery.

References:

Cade, A., & Turnbull, P. R. (2022). Clinical testing of mild traumatic brain injury using computerised eye-tracking tests. Clinical and experimental optometry, 105(7), 680-686.