Concussion & Post-Concussion Symptoms

Treating Concussions with Chiropractic Neurology

Often, concussion treatment is a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. We’ve heard from many patients who are told that symptoms after a concussion are inevitable and untreatable, and that patients should simply wait them out and hope they can return to ‘normal’ someday. But in our experience, most symptoms are treatable, and a deep understanding of what causes them is the first step.

Our Evaluation

Many patients call our evaluation the most thorough they’ve ever had!

Dr. Beckwith will walk through a detailed health history with you, and assess your current health status based on the principles of chiropractic neurology. Even after a ‘mild’ brain injury, your brain and nervous system can be deeply affected. Signs like eye movements, balance changes, reflex changes, delayed responses, and more can give Dr. Beckwith deep insight into how your brain and body are working together — or struggling — in the wake of a concussion.

This evaluation will be the basis of a treatment plan designed to help you manage symptoms and bring lasting relief.

Common Concussion & Post-Concussion Symptoms

As a chiropractic neurologist, Dr. Beckwith frequently sees patients whose symptoms arise after a concussion, sometimes weeks or even months later. Many patients have been through other forms of treatment that have not addressed their symptoms.

Possible Symptoms After a Concussion

• Headaches

• Migraines

• Dizziness or balance problems

• Fatigue

• Nausea

• Coordination problems

Treating Concussions and Post-Concussion Symptoms with Chiropractic Neurology

As brain injuries, concussions are great candidates for treatment through chiropractic neurology. Treatment plans are tailored to each patient’s needs based on the results of their thorough evaluation. For example, an interruption in your reflexes may give us insight into exactly where in your nervous system disruption has occurred, and what treatments may be most effective to bring relief to symptoms.

Based on your evaluation, Dr. Beckwith will develop a treatment plan that addresses the root cause of symptoms following a concussion. Our treatment is gentle and targeted, working with your body rather than against it to help relieve symptoms. Much like physical therapy for injured muscles, we use treatment practices that help strengthen and support (and sometimes inhibit) parts of your nervous system that are causing symptoms. This can include targeted adjustments to the neck and spine, but just as often involves sensory stimulation, balance work, and other specially-tailored exercises that help reset the connection between your brain and body. It is important to note that concussion patients are often not good candidates for the typical “crunchy” neck adjustments many chiropractors use.

When treating concussions and post-concussion symptoms with chiropractic neurology, Dr. Beckwith often employs techniques like:

• Certain types of eye movements in certain speeds and directions

• Combined eye-head strategies

• Passive or active complex body movements

• Inner ear strategies, targeting either the gravitational or rotational circuitry of the inner ear

• Sensory strategies targeting the autonomic nervous system, including the vagus nerve and/or the fight-or-flight responses

• Cognitive activities

• Spatial sensorimotor strategies

These technique help to address problems in the nervous system, and bring patients lasting relief from concussion and post-concussion symptoms.