“Walk it off.” “Shake it out.” “You’re fine — you didn’t even lose consciousness.”
If you’ve ever had a concussion, or been around someone who has, you’ve probably heard these phrases. And they are, to put it bluntly, dangerous advice.
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury. It does not require a direct blow to the head. It does not require loss of consciousness. It does not always produce visible symptoms in the first hours after injury. And “walking it off” can significantly worsen outcomes, extend recovery time, and in some cases lead to serious, lasting impairment.
Here’s what you actually need to know.
What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a functional brain injury caused by biomechanical forces, either a direct blow to the head or a rapid acceleration-deceleration of the head (such as in a car accident or a tackle), that temporarily disrupts normal brain function.
The key word is functional. A concussion typically does not cause structural damage visible on standard CT scans or MRIs. The injury is at the cellular and neurochemical level: the rapid mechanical disruption of neural tissue triggers a neurometabolic cascade — a flood of ionic changes, neurotransmitter release, and energy demand that the brain is temporarily unable to meet.
The brain becomes, essentially, overwhelmed and underpowered at the same time — flooded with signals it cannot properly process, while the cellular energy systems needed to restore normal function are temporarily compromised.
You Don’t Need to “Get Your Bell Rung” to Have a Concussion
One of the most persistent misconceptions about concussions is that they require a dramatic mechanism — a knockout blow, a violent collision, obvious disorientation.
In reality, concussions can result from relatively modest impact forces if the head undergoes sufficient acceleration. This is particularly relevant in:
- Motor vehicle accidents — Even low-speed rear-end collisions can produce the rapid head movement needed to cause concussion, without any direct head impact.
- Sports — Soccer headers, collision sports, even gymnastics can produce concussive forces.
- Workplace injuries — Falls, being struck by objects, or sudden deceleration injuries.
- Children — Children’s brains are more vulnerable to concussive forces, and they are often less able to accurately report their symptoms.
Symptoms: Far More Than a Headache
The stereotypical image of a concussion involves dizziness, confusion, and “seeing stars.” While these can occur, the symptom profile of a concussion is much broader — and some of the most significant symptoms may not appear until hours or days after the injury.
Physical Symptoms
- Headache (the most common symptom — present in approximately 90% of concussions)
- Dizziness and balance problems
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia) or noise (phonophobia)
- Visual disturbances, blurred or double vision
- Sleep disturbances (insomnia or excessive sleepiness)
- Fatigue
Cognitive Symptoms
- Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly (“brain fog”)
- Memory problems — particularly difficulty forming new memories
- Slowed processing speed
- Difficulty with word-finding
- Feeling “not yourself” or “in a fog”
Emotional and Psychological Symptoms
- Irritability
- Emotional lability (more easily upset than usual)
- Anxiety or depression
- Changes in personality
The Critical Red Flags — Seek Emergency Care Immediately If:
- Loss of consciousness lasting more than a minute
- Repeated vomiting
- Seizures
- Worsening headache that doesn’t respond to rest
- Weakness, numbness, or tingling in the extremities
- Slurred speech
- One pupil larger than the other
- Increasing confusion or disorientation
These signs may indicate a more serious intracranial injury requiring immediate emergency evaluation.
The Cervicogenic Connection: Where Chiropractic Comes In
Here is the aspect of concussion care that is most frequently overlooked in conventional management — and where chiropractic care provides unique, significant value.
When a concussion occurs, the forces that affect the brain virtually always affect the cervical spine as well. The same rapid acceleration-deceleration that shakes the brain also stretches, strains, and disrupts the joints, muscles, and ligaments of the neck. This cervical injury is not separate from the concussion — it often perpetuates and amplifies concussion symptoms long after the neurometabolic cascade has resolved.
Cervicogenic headaches — headaches arising from the cervical spine rather than from intracranial causes, are remarkably common after concussion and head injury. They are often indistinguishable from “concussion headaches” by the patient, but have a very different origin and respond very differently to treatment. Medication does not address cervicogenic headaches effectively. Chiropractic does.
Cervicogenic dizziness is similarly common. The proprioceptors of the upper cervical spine (especially the suboccipital region) are intimately connected to the vestibular system and gaze-stabilization mechanisms. When these joints are injured or restricted, they generate aberrant sensory input that the brain interprets as dizziness and balance disruption — symptoms that look exactly like concussion but originate in the neck.
Research increasingly recognizes that many cases of Post-Concussion Syndrome — the persistence of concussion symptoms beyond the expected recovery window (typically 7–14 days in adults), have a significant cervicogenic component that responds to appropriate cervical spine treatment.
The Role of Chiropractic in Concussion Recovery
At Cooper Chiropractic Center, our role in concussion management is to:
- Evaluate and treat the cervical spine component We perform a thorough examination of the cervical and upper thoracic spine to identify joint restrictions, ligamentous injuries, and muscle dysfunction that may be contributing to or perpetuating your symptoms. Precise, gentle adjustments restore normal joint function and reduce the aberrant sensory input driving cervicogenic headaches and dizziness.
- Reduce neurological interference The cervical spine’s sensory input to the brain is disproportionately large relative to its size. Restoring normal joint mechanics reduces neurological “noise” — allowing the recovering brain to process sensory information more efficiently without overwhelming its metabolically compromised state.
- Support vestibular and proprioceptive rehabilitation Balance training and gaze-stabilization exercises, integrated into chiropractic rehabilitation, address the proprioceptive and vestibular components of post-concussion dizziness.
- Coordinate with your medical team Concussion management requires a collaborative approach. We communicate with your primary care physician, neurologist, or sports medicine physician to ensure your care is coordinated and comprehensive.
Important: We do not adjust the cervical spine aggressively in the acute phase of concussion before the neurometabolic cascade has resolved. Our approach in the first days after a concussion is focused on evaluation, education, gentle supportive care, and monitoring for red flags. As you progress through recovery, more specific cervical treatment is introduced.
Return to Activity: The Protocol That Matters
One of the most evidence-based aspects of concussion management is the graduated return-to-activity protocol. Returning to full activity — whether school, work, or sports — too quickly after a concussion risks prolonged symptoms and, in athletes, the risk of second-impact syndrome (a second concussion before the first has healed, which carries serious and potentially fatal risk).
The general framework:
- Rest phase — Physical and cognitive rest until symptom-free
- Light aerobic activity — Walking, swimming at low intensity
- Sport-specific exercise — No contact
- Non-contact training drills
- Full-contact practice (after medical clearance)
- Return to competition
Each step requires 24 hours without symptom recurrence before advancing. We help guide this progression and communicate with coaches, trainers, and school staff when appropriate.
Take Concussion Seriously. Your Brain Is Worth It.
If you or someone you care for has sustained a head injury — in a car accident, a fall, a sport, or any other way — please take it seriously. See a healthcare provider promptly. Rest appropriately. And when you’re ready to address the cervical component of your recovery, we’re here.
Call Cooper Chiropractic Center in Vancouver, WA at 360-693-3030. We work collaboratively with your medical team to support complete recovery from concussion and head injury. You only get one brain — protect it.
References: McCrory, P. et al. (2017). “Consensus statement on concussion in sport.” British Journal of Sports Medicine. Broglio, S.P. & Puetz, T.W. (2008). “The effect of sport concussion on cognitive function.” Sports Medicine. Bogduk, N. (2004). “Cervicogenic headache: anatomic basis and pathophysiologic mechanisms.” Current Pain and Headache Reports. Marshall, C.M. (2015). “Sports-related concussion: a narrative review of the literature.” Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association.
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