Upper Cervical Chiropractic for Concussion-Related Neck Pain, Headaches & Dizziness

Atlas Chiropractic of Boulder provides upper cervical chiropractic care for people experiencing persistent symptoms following a concussion, including headaches, dizziness, vertigo, neck pain, balance problems, brain fog, and difficulty concentrating. Located in Boulder, Colorado, our practice specializes in evaluating the upper cervical spine and its potential role in post-concussion symptoms, particularly following car accidents, whiplash, sports injuries, and other head or neck trauma. We use a detailed examination and objective measurements to determine whether the cervical spine may be contributing to your symptoms and whether upper cervical chiropractic care is appropriate for you.

The neck is often affected during a concussion or head injury.

Even when the primary injury is to the brain, the forces involved can also affect the muscles, joints and ligaments of the cervical spine. This is particularly common when a concussion occurs through a sudden acceleration or deceleration, such as during a car accident or sports collision.

The upper cervical spine also contains sensory receptors that provide the brain with information about head and neck position.

Your brain receives information from several systems including your eyes, inner ear and neck to help you understand where your head and body are in space.

When the information coming from these systems doesn’t coordinate normally, some people may experience symptoms such as:

• Dizziness or disequilibrium
• Balance problems
• Headaches
• Neck pain or stiffness
• Feeling “off”
• Difficulty with visual focus
• Brain fog
• Motion sensitivity

This doesn’t mean that every persistent concussion symptom is caused by the neck. Concussions are complex injuries, and symptoms can have multiple contributing factors.

That’s why a thorough evaluation is important before beginning care.

7 Signs Your Neck May Be Contributing to Persistent Concussion Symptoms

If you’re still experiencing symptoms weeks or months after a concussion, these patterns may be worth discussing with a qualified healthcare provider.

1. Your concussion was accompanied by whiplash or a neck injury

If your head was suddenly thrown forward, backward or sideways, the cervical spine may have sustained an injury at the same time as the concussion.

This is particularly common following car accidents, sports collisions and falls.

2. You have headaches that began after your injury

Headaches are among the most common symptoms following concussion.

If your headaches occur along with neck pain, stiffness or changes in neck movement, the cervical spine may be one factor contributing to your symptoms.

3. You experience dizziness or balance problems

Persistent dizziness can have many causes following a concussion.

The vestibular system, visual system and cervical spine can all contribute to balance and spatial orientation. Evaluating the neck may therefore be appropriate in some people with persistent dizziness after a concussion.

4. Your neck feels stiff or restricted

Neck stiffness after a concussion can be a sign that the cervical spine was affected during the injury.

Reduced cervical movement may also contribute to headaches, discomfort and changes in the sensory information reaching the brain.

5. Your symptoms change with neck movement

Pay attention to whether symptoms change when you:

• Turn your head
• Look up or down
• Rotate your neck
• Maintain one position for a long time
• Move quickly from one position to another

These observations can provide useful information during an evaluation.

6. You feel “off” even though your initial testing was normal

A normal CT or MRI does not necessarily mean that you won’t experience symptoms after a concussion.

Standard imaging is useful for identifying certain structural problems, but it does not measure every aspect of how the brain, vestibular system, visual system and cervical spine are functioning together.

Persistent symptoms deserve appropriate follow-up.

7. Your symptoms haven’t resolved the way you expected

Most people recover from a concussion, but recovery time varies.

If headaches, dizziness, neck pain, balance problems or other symptoms continue to interfere with your normal activities, it may be worthwhile to have the different potential contributors evaluated.

At Atlas Chiropractic of Boulder, we don’t assume that every concussion patient needs the same treatment.

We begin by reviewing:

• How the injury occurred
• When your symptoms began
• Which symptoms you’re currently experiencing
• Whether you experienced whiplash or neck trauma
• Previous medical and concussion evaluations
• Previous imaging and testing
• What activities make your symptoms better or worse

We then perform an examination focused on the cervical spine and the factors that may be relevant to your symptoms.

Depending on your situation, evaluation may include:

• Cervical range-of-motion testing
• Neurological and orthopedic examination
• Postural assessment
• Upper cervical analysis
• Balance and coordination observations
• Biomechanical X-rays when clinically appropriate
• Objective measurements before and after care

Our goal is to determine whether the cervical spine appears to be contributing to your symptoms and whether upper cervical chiropractic care is appropriate for you.

Our Approach to Post-Concussion Care

Our approach is different from simply adjusting the spine and hoping symptoms improve.

We use a precise upper cervical approach that focuses on the relationship between the upper neck and the rest of the body.

When appropriate, care may include:

Upper cervical adjustments

Our upper cervical technique is designed to be precise and specific. We do not routinely twist or rotate the neck during an upper cervical adjustment.

Objective measurements

We use objective findings to monitor changes during care rather than relying exclusively on how you feel from one appointment to the next.

Addressing the cervical spine

When examination findings suggest that the neck may be contributing to headaches, dizziness, neck pain or other symptoms, we focus care on restoring more normal cervical function.

Coordination with other healthcare providers

Concussion recovery can require a multidisciplinary approach.

Depending on your symptoms, you may benefit from evaluation or treatment from professionals such as a physician, neurologist, vestibular therapist, physical therapist, optometrist or other healthcare provider.

We believe collaboration is an important part of appropriate concussion care.

Concussion Symptoms We Commonly See

Patients experiencing persistent symptoms after a concussion may report:

Headaches and migraines

Headaches may develop immediately after an injury or continue long after the initial concussion.

Dizziness and balance problems

Some people experience spinning, lightheadedness, imbalance or a feeling of being “off.”

Neck pain

Neck pain and stiffness are common when the cervical spine is affected during the injury.

Brain fog and difficulty concentrating

Cognitive symptoms can be frustrating and may interfere with work, school and everyday activities.

Fatigue and sleep difficulties

Changes in sleep and energy can occur during concussion recovery.

Sensitivity to light or sound

Some people become unusually sensitive to light, sound or busy environments following a concussion.

Concussion Care in Boulder, Erie & Superior

Atlas Chiropractic of Boulder serves patients throughout the Boulder area, including Boulder, Superior, Erie, Louisville and surrounding communities.

Our practice focuses on upper cervical chiropractic care for patients experiencing headaches, migraines, vertigo, dizziness, neck pain, whiplash and persistent symptoms following concussion or other injuries.

If you’re still experiencing symptoms after a concussion and you’re wondering whether your neck may be contributing, we’d be happy to evaluate your cervical spine and discuss whether our approach may be appropriate for you.

Schedule a Concussion Evaluation

You don’t have to simply accept persistent headaches, dizziness or neck pain as something you have to live with after a concussion.

Call Atlas Chiropractic of Boulder at (303) 442-5911 or schedule a consultation online.