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HEAD TRAUMA + POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME

Concussions are often described as “mild traumatic brain injuries,” but there’s nothing mild about living with persistent post-concussion symptoms. Whether from sports, a car accident, a fall, or a blast injury, concussions can leave behind invisible but lasting neurologic disruption—especially when the upper neck and brainstem are involved.

 

At Vital Balance, we specialize in addressing the overlooked structural and neurologic imbalances that commonly prolong recovery after head trauma.

What Happens During a Concussion

Most people think of concussion as a “brain bruise,” but it’s far more complex than that. Concussions involve rapid acceleration and deceleration forces that create violent shear stress across the brain and upper cervical spine.

 

To put this into perspective:

  • A car accident generates around 40 Gs of force

  • Many sports-related concussions involve impacts of 80–100 Gs or more

One of the most vulnerable areas during these events is the cranio-cervical junction—where the skull meets the top of the spine. This region is home to:

  • The brainstem, which controls balance, heart rate, breathing, and sleep

  • The vestibular system, which processes spatial orientation

  • Critical blood vessels and cerebrospinal fluid drainage pathways

  • Dense networks of proprioceptive tissue responsible for posture and coordination

 

Even minor misalignment or connective tissue injury here can lead to neurologic dysfunction that lingers long after the initial trauma has “healed.”

Common Post-Concussion Symptoms We Address:

  • Headaches that won’t resolve

  • Light and sound sensitivity

  • Brain fog and memory issues

  • Poor balance or coordination

  • Dizziness or “spaciness”

  • Eye tracking problems or visual fatigue

  • Anxiety, irritability, and emotional instability

  • Sleep disruption and fatigue

  • Delayed reflexes or slowed thinking

 

These are not just “in your head”—they are signs that your neurologic integration system is disrupted.

Why Concussion Symptoms Often Persist

During impact, aggressive shear forces at the skull-neck junction can stretch or distort the connective tissues that suspend and protect the brainstem. This tension can:

  • Irritate the brainstem and cranial nerves

  • Disrupt blood flow and lymphatic drainage from the brain

  • Interfere with eye tracking, vestibular integration, and postural control

 

If left uncorrected, these imbalances can create a “neurologic traffic jam”—keeping the brain in a state of hypervigilance, confusion, or inflammation for months (or years) after the injury.

Our Approach to Concussion Recovery

 

1. Structural Correction at the Cranio-Cervical Junction
We use advanced imaging and upper cervical chiropractic techniques to gently correct subtle misalignments between the skull and spine—without twisting, cracking, or force. Realigning this area improves brainstem input/output and helps restore fluid balance and neurologic calm.

 

2. Neurologic Testing with Eye Movement Tracking
Eye movements are one of the most sensitive indicators of brain function after a concussion. We use computerized eye-tracking technology to assess and monitor your reflexes, smooth pursuits, and saccades—giving us objective insight into brainstem, cerebellar, and frontal lobe function.

 

3. Brain-Based Rehabilitation & Sensory Reintegration
Once structural interference is corrected, we use customized neurologic drills to help retrain your nervous system. These may include:

  • Gaze stability and visual-vestibular exercises

  • Balance and postural reprogramming

  • Proprioceptive remapping

  • Breathing and vagal tone restoration

This creates new, healthy brain-body feedback loops and accelerates true recovery—not just symptom masking.

 

4. Lifestyle Strategies for Neurologic Recovery
We provide guidance on post-concussion recovery protocols including:

  • Sleep regulation and circadian rhythm restoration

  • Screen-time and light sensitivity management

  • Nutritional and hydration support for brain healing

  • HRV-guided pacing and recovery strategies

 

Why Our Approach Works

If your post-concussion symptoms aren’t going away—or if you're being told “everything looks normal” while you still feel off—you’re not crazy. You’re miswired.

At Vital Balance, we identify and correct the neurologic bottlenecks that traditional care often overlooks—so your brain can finally begin to heal at the level it was disrupted.

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