Can a Chiropractor Help with Post Concussion Syndrome?

Post-concussion syndrome is the result of brain trauma. It can be a car accident, a sports accident, or a slip and fall. Many people who suffer a concussion do not lose consciousness. For this reason, they do not seek medical care. Unfortunately, even with proper treatment, post-concussion syndrome can appear and cause several debilitating symptoms. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about PCS and how chiropractic treatment can help you overcome it.


What Exactly Causes Post-Concussion Syndrome?

The brain is safely protected by the skull from most average accidents, such as hitting a wall or banging your head against a half-open door. Unfortunately, when strong force is applied to the head, the shockwaves reach the brain, causing injury. Whiplash in case of a car accident is a frequent cause of concussion. As your head moves forward and backward beyond the natural range of movement of the neck, the brain physically hits the inside of the skull. The same thing happens when you take a bad fall on the ice or a slippery floor. The post-concussion syndrome usually appears between 7 and 10 days after the traumatic event that caused the initial concussion. The negative symptoms may last for months, or even a year.

What Are the Symptoms of Post Concussion Syndrome?

Patients with post-concussion syndrome experience a varied range of symptoms, with different degrees of severity, such as:

• Dizziness

• Headaches

• Fatigues

• Irritability

• Insomnia

• Tinnitus

• Blurry vision.

In more serious cases, some patients may also suffer from:

• Reduced ability to focus

• Memory problems

• Reduced ability to form verbal responses

• Extreme noise and light sensitivity

• Decrease in taste and smell.

How Can a Chiropractor Help with Post Concussion Syndrome?

Major trauma to the head can impact other parts of the body. Whiplash usually hurts the neck, as well. A fall can cause subluxations in the vertebrae of the middle or lower spinal cord.

Chiropractic treatment focuses on solving these subluxations as a way of encouraging the brain to recover its full functions and continue sending its messages to the rest of the body unimpeded. You may not believe it, but PCS symptoms are directly related to misalignments in your spine.

For instance:

• The subluxation of the C1 vertebra (at the very top of the spine, just below the skull) may cause headaches, memory problems, and difficulty in focus

• A subluxation of the T6 vertebra (in the middle of the back) may cause nausea and digestive problems,

Types of Chiropractic Adjustments Used for Post-Concussion Syndrome

Chiropractors know a very wide range of manipulations that they successfully use to treat various injuries and conditions. Chiropractic for post-concussion syndrome usually involves


• Low-force corrections – the chiropractor uses gentle and precise movements to adjust the misaligned vertebrae. The patient usually feels very little to no pain and discomfort


• Precise adjustments – the chiropractor will focus on a very small area of your body, with specific manipulations that encourage the vertebrae to return to their natural position


• Deep muscle massage – tense and inflamed muscles may force the spinal cord into an unnatural position as a result of the trauma. The massage relaxes the muscles and solves inflammation.

Other specific massages and adjustments are meant to encourage the cerebrospinal fluid to flow naturally, by removing the obstacles in its path.

The entire chiropractic program is aimed at solving the underlying cause of PCS, not simply its symptoms. 

Post-concussion syndrome can affect your life for months and prevent you from enjoying it to the full.