Have you ever fallen down? Fallen out of a tree? Been hit in the head or face with a hard object? Run into another person?

Have you ever been in an auto accident? Motorcycle accident? Bicycle accident? Quad accident?

Have you ever been knocked out? Knocked “silly”? Had your bell rung? Lost consciousness for a few seconds or even longer?

These types of accidents (and many more!) often result in an extreme shaking of the head, often violent, known as a “concussion.” The symptoms of a concussion have been known for some time. They are: headache, disorientation, amnesia, poor balance, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, memory loss, fatigue, ringing in the ears, sensitivity to light or sound, slurred speech, and loss of concentration.

Concussion detection is all the rage now, especially with regards to sports. Athletes both old and young are being pre-tested and checked and tested again and again for possible damage. The problem, unfortunately, is not just short-term because it has been discovered that injured brain tissue degenerates over time and may begin its degeneration months, years, or even decades after the last impacts occurred.

In the movie, “Concussion”, Will Smith played the part of Dr. Bennet Omalu, the doctor who finally documented the long-term traumatic effects of professional football. The name Dr. Omalu gave to this type of trauma is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE.

The symptoms of CTE are memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, suicidal thoughts, and progressive dementia.

So…who am I and why am I writing this paper on concussions? My name is Dr. Joel Vickers, and I am a Doctor of Chiropractic who specializes in Applied Kinesiology (AK). It would be helpful if you also read my article, “Muscle Weakness From Trauma” to better understand what I am about to tell you regarding concussions and concussion therapies.

At best, our ability to detect a concussion has been shortened to five years after the final concussive event. However, there are no “cures” or “fixes” for concussions in the medical establishment. There are no new “therapies” or “exercises” that can offset the damage that has been done. Those who have gone to “concussion clinics” have left mildly hopeful and yet worried what the future may hold.

It may surprise you that there is hope for concussive events, and it may be found in a combination of Applied Kinesiology muscle balancing with proper nutritional support tailored to the individual’s needs.

Applied Kinesiologists have, for decades, been turning on and balancing muscles that have been weakened from traumas of all types. They also have been realigning the bones that have shifted out of position due to trauma. This includes the muscles and bones of the head and neck.

When the muscles of the head and neck are traumatized and subsequently weakened following trauma, this causes an imbalance within these muscles that can cause blood flow to and from the brain to be inhibited. As well, lymphatic drainage is minimized and waste products begin to build up in and around the brain tissue. This causes the normal healing time to be dramatically slower…or it doesn’t take place at all! We see the same long-term results in auto accident victims with many of the same symptoms as concussion patients.

Just as important, proper nutritional support assists the body in the healing process, which can take place fully when the muscles and bones are fully functioning and in their proper alignment. If you or someone you know has undergone trauma to their head and neck with one or more of the concussion symptoms listed above, send them to me, Dr. Vickers at Vickers AK Chiropractic and let me help their body heal properly and quickly! Call now at (616) 738-1200.