Physical Assessment
Almost all concussions involve some sort of trauma that extends beyond the brain impact itself. In some cases, these trauma will have a direct effect on the brains ability to heal. As a chiropractor, the most common forms of these injuries involve either damage to the top of the neck (occiput, atlas and axis) or the cranial bones.
The top two vertebrae of the neck and the base of the skull are richly innervated with a number of different kinds of nerve receptors. These receptors help the brain understand where it is in relation to the rest of the body and gravity itself. When these structures become misaligned (in Chiropractic we say "subluxated"), the signals the joints are sending the brain become garbled and misleading. When the brain gets these faulty input signals, the output signals from the brain become likewise inaccurate. This leads to a number of symptoms from excessive and uneven muscle tension, pain, headaches and in some cases dizziness.
Additionally, there is a nerve structure at the very top vertebra called the superior cervical ganglion that controls the flow of blood into the back part of the brain. If it becomes irritated it can set off vicious, debilitating migraines.
There are 22 bones in the skull and while they may appear to be fused, they actually have a small amount of movement in them. This movement is caused by the pulsing of the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) that bathes the brain and spinal cord. If the sutures become jammed during a head injury then the pulse wave of the CSF, instead of moving the skull bones, puts a small amount of pressure on the brain, often at the site of injury, further aggravating the injury and making it harder to heal. A good analogy is the tectonic plates of the earth - they may only move an inch at a time but they can cause earthquakes when they do.
When you come in to our clinic for evaluation. in addition to your brain map, we will also check your spine and cranial system to ensure that you get the most complete care you require to recover.
The top two vertebrae of the neck and the base of the skull are richly innervated with a number of different kinds of nerve receptors. These receptors help the brain understand where it is in relation to the rest of the body and gravity itself. When these structures become misaligned (in Chiropractic we say "subluxated"), the signals the joints are sending the brain become garbled and misleading. When the brain gets these faulty input signals, the output signals from the brain become likewise inaccurate. This leads to a number of symptoms from excessive and uneven muscle tension, pain, headaches and in some cases dizziness.
Additionally, there is a nerve structure at the very top vertebra called the superior cervical ganglion that controls the flow of blood into the back part of the brain. If it becomes irritated it can set off vicious, debilitating migraines.
There are 22 bones in the skull and while they may appear to be fused, they actually have a small amount of movement in them. This movement is caused by the pulsing of the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) that bathes the brain and spinal cord. If the sutures become jammed during a head injury then the pulse wave of the CSF, instead of moving the skull bones, puts a small amount of pressure on the brain, often at the site of injury, further aggravating the injury and making it harder to heal. A good analogy is the tectonic plates of the earth - they may only move an inch at a time but they can cause earthquakes when they do.
When you come in to our clinic for evaluation. in addition to your brain map, we will also check your spine and cranial system to ensure that you get the most complete care you require to recover.