While at gymnastics practice, Lindsay did a vault with poor form and came down on her head. She immediately had a headache. Thank goodness she was already already under supportive chiropractic care and was scheduled for a visit so we could start the concussion protocol.
After a head injury, many people rest as they are directed but are left with lingering symptoms that may include, but are not limited to:
- brain fog
- focus issues
- irritability
- chronic headaches
- balance difficulties
These symptoms can last for months to years and can become debilitating. This is why it’s important not to just wait for the symptoms to go away. The sooner you start the protocol, the less likely the long term complications.
An internationally accepted tool to analyze for concussion symptoms is the SCAT5. It is primarily used for sports related impacts, but can be used for any other form of head trauma.
Dr. Moje, at Apex Chiropractic, can assess the brain for specific areas or patterns of abnormal function. As a Functional Neurologist (DIBCN), Dr. Moje has a focused plan to help people with concussions recover faster and more fully than with rest and medications alone.
Typical Concussion Care Plan includes:
- Specific exercises (in-office and at home): The first part of a typical care plan includes eye movement exercises and right/left brain specific exercises. These help with recovery of the brain for optimal function.
- Gentle chiropractic care based on breathing patterns and specific points: Another part of care includes a method of chiropractic that looks at the breathing pattern and looks at specific points on the head and face bones. When there are abnormal findings, gentle approaches are used to stimulate healing in the body.
- Brain-based diet and nutrition: The final part of this concussion care program includes supporting the body with brain-based nutrition. This can significantly improve brain function and reduce symptoms. The main goals when supporting the brain this way is to reduce inflammation and support blood flow to the brain.
These three components can significantly reduce the often long-lasting symptoms people with concussions suffer from.
Neurologists can help to diagnose a concussion and provide recommendations like rest and medication, but only chiropractors trained to manage concussions (in Ohio CCSP and DIBCN/DACNB) can provide this type of care to help, more efficiently, reduce or end the problems.
Do not wait to see if the concussion related symptoms go away. These are warning signals from the brain to get help. The sooner you start the protocol, the less likely you will be to have long term complications.
