Concussion: A Head Injury or a Neck Injury?
The Upper Cervical Centers in St. Petersburg, FL and Tampa, FL has some of the top doctors for concussion recovery, but it is not the recovery approach you would expect. Our doctors are upper cervical chiropractors, a highly trained niche within the chiropractic field that deals with one of the most sensitive areas of the spine called the craniocervical junction. As you will see through this information, the upper cervical spine is one of the most vulnerable areas to head impacts, and it is directly related to many of the symptoms related to concussion and post-concussive syndrome.
Head impacts, forceful falls and unexpected blows both on and off the field can lead to a cascade of symptoms often associated with a concussion. These symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Neck pain and tension
- Dizziness
- Shoulder pain
- Balance difficulty
- Vestibular dysfunction
- Nausea/vomiting
- Poor focus & concentration
- Poor memory
- Ocular dysfunction
- ANS-dysfunction
- Psychological distress
- Tinnitus
- Sleep disturbance
All of these symptoms are also frequently found in whiplash injuries of the neck. Although a concussion is commonly known as a head injury, more research is pointing to concussions being related to an injury of the neck (Morin et al.). Even field-side evaluations for athletes focus on cranial nerves that come from the brainstem, which sits close to and within the craniocervical junction, which is the joint structures between the head and the upper neck.
Studies Say Look to the Neck
In a study focused on post-concussive headaches, the writer states that “upper cervical joint dysfunction is a feature of cervicogenic causes of headache” and they state that it supports evaluation of the neck when an athlete experiences headaches after being concussed. (Treleaven, et al.)
One large scale review of concussion states, “Assessment and treatment of the cervical spine and vestibular system in the presence of persistent dizziness, neck pain, and/or headaches may facilitate functional and symptomatic improvements and shorten recovery in post-mTBI subjects.” (Morin, et al.)
In one of the most significant studies, 13 hockey players were evaluated after encountering either a whiplash force to the neck or a concussion to the head. All of the players had the exact same symptoms. Their conclusion was this:
“There is a strong association between whiplash induced neck injuries and the symptoms of concussion in hockey injuries. Both should be evaluated when dealing with athletes/patients suffering from either injury.”(Hynes, et al)
Why the Upper Neck?
The upper neck is the most vulnerable area in the entire spine, and far more vulnerable than the skull itself. The craniocervical junction has much less stable joints than other vertebrae, and the ligaments that keep the skull attached to the head are among the weakest in the spine. This does allow for more healthy head and neck movement under normal conditions, but it leaves the upper neck more vulnerable to injury and misalignment.
It takes approximately 60G’s of force to cause a true concussion (mTBI), however, it only takes about 4.5G’s of force to injure the upper cervical spine. This means that by the time you would have injured your brain, you have most likely already injured your neck.
Why Is It Missed?
Standard medical imaging for the brain only goes down to the bottom of the skull and standard spine imaging ordered from orthopedic or chiropractic offices only go as high as the second cervical vertebrae. The craniocervical junction is often overlooked in one or two important views in these cases, leaving many concussion symptoms a mystery. Upper cervical doctors use imaging specific to the craniocervical junction in all 3 dimentions and will often find the root cause of the concussion symptoms there. This is why standard evaluation of the brain can show normal findings, but significant post-concussion symptoms still persist, like headaches, neck pain, and balance issues. All of these can seriously impact the athletes performance and career.
Recovering From Concussion
At the Upper Cervical Centers in both Brandon and St. Petersburg, we dedicate our careers to the specific correction of the craniocervical junction. Due to the forces that occur in the neck during a concussion, upper cervical care is the most specific approach to the area of likely injury. Upper cervical care has the potential to make powerful change in these symptoms and functions related to concussion injuries. It is vital for recovery to have an upper cervical doctor as a part of the management of concussion and post-concussive syndrome.
Can Upper Cervical Help You With Concussion Recovery?
The best way to find out if Upper Cervical Care is right for you is to schedule a consultation with one of our Upper Cervical chiropractors. The doctors who work at the Upper Cervical Centers has spent years of postgraduate training focused on correcting the craniocervical junction. We have offices in Brandon and St. Petersburg, covering the Tampa Bay region. To schedule a consultation, call (813) 644-7190. By sitting down with you and learning more about your case, we can determine if Upper Cervical care may be able to help you with issues related to concussion such as headaches, neck pain, dizziness, balance issues and more.
References
Morin M, Langevin P, Fait P. Cervical Spine Involvement in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Review. J Sports Med (Hindawi Publ Corp). 2016;2016:1590161.
Treleaven J1, Jull G, Atkinson L. Cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction in post-concussional headache. Cephalalgia. 1994 Aug;14(4):273-9; discussion 257.
Hynes LM, Dickey JP. Is there a relationship between whiplash-associated disorders and concussion in hockey? A preliminary study. Brain Inj. 2006 Feb;20(2):179-88.