Concussions

One of the most common, yet least talked about bodily injuries, is the brain concussion. Inside the skull, sits the brain. The area between the brain and the skull is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The cerebrospinal fluid protects the brain from light trauma, acting as a cushion between the soft brain and the hard skull. When the head is struck by force, the brain moves within the skull. The harder the force, the greater the movement and the less the CSF can absorb or cushion the brain from the solid skull. There are two types of forces that can cause concussions. The first is impact force, when the head itself is exposed to blunt trauma. The second type of force is impulsive force. In this type of force, the head is not exposed to blunt trauma, but the head and neck are forcibly thrown forward and backward, as in a whiplash type accident. In both types of trauma, the brain is first affected by changes in intracranial pressure, blood flow, decreased oxygen and brain cell death. The most common symptoms associated with concussion are headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, tinnitus and balance disorders. In conjunction with these symptoms, MRI and, or CT scans are usually performed to check for potential brain lesions. In accidents and in today's society, physical activities (sports, recreation), head trauma is a fairly common occurrence. It is vitally important to monitor all head injuries with care and due diligence. Most concussion injuries heal with proper rest and conservative management, but it must be noted that, depending on the type of trauma and how it affects the individual's brain, more serious complications, including death could result. In addition, When any athlete suffers a concussion, the athlete must be medically cleared before participating in sporting activities. Another bump on the head, before complete concussion recovery, could be catastrophic to the individual.

Thought for the Week: "What about football? Is it a sport or a concussion?" ~Jim Murray, Los Angeles Times

Chiropractic Thought for the Week: The average weight of the human head is between 9 and 12 pounds. This copious amount of weight is supported by seven little, moveable bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons. Any force, what-so-ever to the head, has a negative impact on the cervical spine. When the head is impacted by force, the neck muscles immediately and severely contract to protect the spine from severe injury. This sudden muscle contraction causes the spinal bones to misalign and change the shape of the spinal curvature. One of the most important things a person can do after suffering a head trauma (in addition to medical evaluation) and whiplash type injury is to see a chiropractor for evaluation of subluxation and spinal nerve stress.