Concussion and Post-Concussion Syndrome Recovery
According to the American Academy of Neurology, Concussion is defined as “trauma-induced alteration in mental status that may or may not involve loss of consciousness”.
Current research has indicated that even minor, unmemorable falls and shocks to the brain can have serious effects. And note: your head doesn’t even have to come into contact with anything. Just the whiplash itself can cause a concussion.
Experiencing quick, powerful movements, where either your body stops, and your head and brain keep moving, or where your head stops, but your brain keeps moving, can cause after-effects that can be pervasive and become debilitating.
Your body’s structures, blood flow, fluid flow, nervous system responses, and communication within your brain and from the brain to the rest of your body can be affected.
Car accidents (minor or major), slips and falls, or simply bumping your head into something – all can cause a concussion. Also included in this would be combat zone soldiers who have experienced blasts and shocks.
Experiencing vision problems, headaches, memory diminishment, dizziness, tremors, ringing in the ears, troubles focusing or studying…are just a few of the symptoms that can appear, and can potentially become increasingly debilitating over time.
It’s been estimated that up to one third (33%) of all patients diagnosed with concussion have symptoms of what is called “Post Concussion Syndrome” (PCS), which are lingering symptoms after an accident or injury, that are of a physical, emotional, or cognitive nature, which remain unresolved for weeks, months, and even years.
PCS is defined by the World Health Organization as “persistence of three or more of the following symptoms after head injury: headache, dizziness, fatigue, irritability, insomnia, concentration, or memory difficulty. This diagnosis is usually reserved for patients whose symptoms persist for more than three weeks.” Sleep related issues, cardiovascular idiosyncrasies that weren’t present before the concussion, and chronic pain have been included in this diagnosis by many medical professionals.
CranioSacral Therapy is an effective therapy that is well-suited for people who have experienced a Concussion or who have lingering symptoms or disabilities from an injury or accident (PCS).
In cases of Concussion or PCS, CranioSacral Therapy supports the patient in regaining their health & their abilities, and works to restore their quality of life in the following ways:
● CranioSacral Therapy is gentle,which is a key to it’s effectiveness in your body recovering from a traumatic event such as a Concussion.
● CranioSacral Therapy releases abnormal tensions and restrictions in the layers of membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meninges) that result from the physical force (trauma) of the injury or accident, and the effects of the whiplash in and around the brain and spinal cord.
● As well, CranioSacral Therapy releases muscular or other types of connective tissue constrictions that can delay or inhibit one’s full recovery from a Concussion, either avoiding the body developing lingering symptoms (PCS) or helping the body heal from lingering symptoms that have developed.
● CranioSacral Therapy supports the nervous system in coming to a better balance within the parasympathetic branch – the part of the nervous system responsible for the repair and maintenance of your body. The more balance between the sympathetic branch of one’s nervous system (fight or flight responses) and the parasympathetic branch (rest, digest, repair, & maintain responses), the more capable the body’s repair and maintenance mechanisms are of healing the body, and in improving brain communication and blood flow.
CranioSacral Therapy facilitates the following in patients with Concussion or PCS:
● Improved memory and concentration
● Improved energy and stamina
● Improved balance, motor skills, and coordination
● Improvement of blurry vision, emotional upsets, sleep patterns, headaches, nausea, ringing in the ears, and other specific symptoms or disabilities that appeared after a concussion or traumatic injury.
● More efficient and effective healing overall
● Improved response of homeostatic and healing mechanisms throughout the body
● Improved quality of life and enjoyment of daily life activities
CranioSacral Therapy is an effective therapy that supports maximum healing and recovery from Concussions and Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS), as well as supporting the body in coming into a more healthy state overall.
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