Just last year, roughly 4,500 NFL former players received a settlement from a lawsuit made against the league for allegedly concealing the long-term health risks of concussions. If you’re passionate about watching sports, especially football, you’ve probably heard of this condition. You may have even suffered one yourself.
Either way, it’s important to be aware of what this injury entails, the serious, short-term and long-term effects it can have on the brain, and how to treat it most effectively to avoid reoccurring symptoms by seeing a chiropractor in Charlotte NC.
“Concussion” is a broad term that describes a brain injury caused by trauma—usually a bump, hit or jolts to the head that results in an altered mental state. Symptoms vary and may be any combination of the following:
- Problems with balance
- Difficulty communicating
- Difficulty concentrating
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
- Decreased mental clarity
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Depression
- Sleeping more than usual
- Sensitivity to light and loud noises
- Memory issues
- Vomiting
According to a new study, an estimated 1.6-3.5 million sports-related brain injuries occur in the U.S. each year, 136,000 of which occur in young athletes during their participation in high-school sports. However, these statistics may be grossly underestimated. According to reports from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program, “between 1.7 and 3 million sports and recreation-related concussions occur every year. Five out of ten concussions go undetected or unreported. One in 10 high school athletes who play contact sports will suffer a concussion this year.” The good news is, seeing a chiropractor in Charlotte NC can have a dramatic positive impact on these stats.
According to research, one simple approach to recovery is resting the brain from cognitive activities, which are defined as those “that require you to think harder than usual.” One particular study suggests that it takes an average of 20-50 days for patients to report “back-to-normal” cognitive function after suffering head trauma. If your child has or gets a concussion, this may be the simplest intervention.
In addition, there are natural approaches, such as seeing a chiropractor in Charlotte NC, that can complement an existing recovery program. These include: nutritional supplementation to support brain tissue recovery, as well as regular chiropractic adjustments. When a person experiences a concussion, the force endured by the skull shifts segments and impacts the overall structure of the spine. It only makes sense that with an impact injury of high force that induces a concussion, the entire spinal structure should be evaluated and put back in proper position to ensure the normal function of all bodily systems—especially the central nervous system. Without proper restoration, future problems can arise, including headaches, migraines, neck pain, insomnia, hormone-related problems, fatigue, brain fog and more.
Before undergoing any treatment, a comprehensive examination from a chiropractor in Charlotte NC that includes orthopedic testing and x-ray studies should be performed to determine proper protocol to alleviate swelling on the central nervous system and increase healing.
Parents, I strongly recommend if your child or even you have had a concussion to receive a proper evaluation of your spine and nervous system by a chiropractor in Charlotte NC. The journal of integrative health care states, “therapies offered by chiropractors benefit the athletes that have sustained sports-related concussions.” There is also plenty of evidence revealing the devastating long-term effects of untreated head trauma. If this is you, contact our office at 980-422-2000, or click here to request a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your needs.