Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) has been attracting a lot of attention over the past year, especially when it comes to professional sports. Younger athletes are not exempt from this condition, however, as was seen by the experience of a young basketball player in New York, USA.
A local newspaper reported on his yearlong battle with post-concussion syndrome after experiencing two concussions. His symptoms included frequent headaches, feeling disoriented and groggy, and just having the general feeling that something was constantly not right. This is not an isolated incident. The article also reports that about 300,000 high school athletes suffer concussions per year. And that’s just in the United States.
The Impact of Post-Concussion Syndrome
Having experienced only a year of symptoms actually makes this young athlete one of the fortunate ones. Some still experience symptoms for decades following a concussion. Why is this the case? For some, it may be because the injury that caused the concussion also resulted in an upper cervical misalignment. Such a misalignment can restrict proper flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid to the brain. It can also put pressure on the brainstem which is protected by the C1 vertebra. The many symptoms of PCS can all result.
At Providence Chiropractic, we use the NUCCA technique of upper cervical chiropractic to identify and correct such misalignments. A patient history, x-rays, and a physical examination of the neck and posture are all part of the consultation. Then, this information is used to develop a custom adjustment for each individual patient.
Because adjustments are gentle (no popping or cracking here), they last longer and give the body the time it needs to begin the healing process. Everything from the symptoms of post-concussion syndrome to the patient’s posture can be helped right from the first adjustment.
