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Traumatic Brain Injury and Chiropractic

Jun 18, 2020

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a fairly common occurrence that can happen to children and adults of all ages. The simplest explanation of a TBI is an injury to the tissue of the brain. You can think of it as a bruise. Just like a bruise on your body, a bruise to the brain needs time to heal. However, unlike a bruise to a body part, the brain is involved with every cognitive function and is therefore felt more intensely and can have an big effect on life's daily activities.


This injury can happen in a variety of ways:


  • Car accidents
  • Falls
  • Whiplash trauma
  • Sports
  • Blunt force trauma
  • Blast injuries (explosions)
  • Concussion


The symptoms of mild TBI can include:


  • A brief loss of consciousness in some cases. However, many people with mild TBI remain conscious after the injury
  • Headache
  • Confusion
  • Lightheadedness
  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision or tired eyes
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Bad taste in the mouth
  • Fatigue
  • A change in sleep patterns
  • Behavioral or mood changes
  • Stomach aches, lack of appetite
  • Trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking


When you undergo a traumatic event to the head or neck, it is important to get checked by a chiropractor or neurologist. In our office we frequently see undiagnosed concussions after car accidents. These patients were assessed in the emergency room and cleared with no concussion! This is why it is essential to get a proper assessment after the fact.


Something we must remember about chiropractic, is that it has an IMMENSE impact on brain function. Every adjustment to the upper cervical spine allows an increase in blood flow to the deepest areas of the brain (30% more!). Along with blood flow, it increases Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) flow. CSF acts as the irrigation system to the brain and spinal cord. It flushes metabolic wastes out. Many times with concussions or TBI's the pressure within the cranial (skull) bones increase and stalls that precious CSF flow. This allows the waste products from the cellular clean-up to build up within the brain. This is why symptoms of head injury can feel like they last for months! Lastly, the neurological stimulation from the adjustment can reboot the parts of the brain that shut down after injury. All of these benefits are immediate following a chiropractic adjustment.


A short story I want to share with you...


A young boy fell out of a tree 9 feet to the ground. He doesn't remember what part of his body hit the ground. During the exam he was fatigued, lacking eye focus, had terrible migraines, his eyes hurt, his neck hurt, and he couldn't sleep. During the exam of his cranial nerves, it showed he had damage to his cranial nerves 3, 6, 9, and 12. These are the nerves that control eye movements and the muscles for swallowing. After 2 gentle adjustments he started yawning, something his mom said he hadn't done since the accident. He finally got a full nights sleep after 1 adjustment, his appetite returned, and he had no more migraines. He still had some aches from the fall, but he was on the road the recovery! Chiropractic adjustments post concussion can immediately change and heal the brain!


This story has happened many times in our office! If you feel like you may have suffered a brain injury, no matter the size, come get checked by our doctors at Thrive Family Chiropractic. Symptoms can have everlasting effects if not addressed, and the sooner the better!






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