Sports-Related Concussion and Chiropractic

Chiropractic and SportConcussionHead Injuries
Written By Liam Hill

Concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury, is often a difficult condition to diagnose. Therefore it’s vital that sports teams and parents have a concussion plan in place to ensure the safety of all players.

‘Concussion’ - the 2015 American biographical sports drama - catapulted this term, along with ‘Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)’, into the spotlight with regards to contact sports. According to Sports Medicine Australia, concussion refers to a “disturbance in brain function, rather than a structural injury to the brain.”(1)

It can be caused by either direct or indirect trauma to the head, neck, or face. The force is then transmitted to the sensitive nervous tissue within the skull, causing various neurological repercussions. 

1. Signs of Concussion(2)

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, there are a few common signs that an individual may be suffering from concussion. These include (but are not limited to):

  1. Ringing in ears (tinnitus)

  2. Nausea

  3. Vomiting

  4. Fatigue or drowsiness

  5. Blurry vision

  6. Confusion/lapse in cognitive ability (memory disturbances, slurred speech, delayed response)

  7. Dizziness

  8. Sleep disturbances

  9. Disorders to taste and smell

  10. Loss of consciousness

 However, it’s important to note that all head traumas should be treated like concussions.

2. 4 R’s of Concussion Management(1)

An appropriate management plan should follow these basic steps:

  1. Recognise – Assess if a potential injury has occurred

  2. Remove – Safely intervene in the game, assess the player (vital signs), and then appropriately remove the player from the game

  3. Report - Ensure that the player is closely monitored by their ‘concussion coordinator’

  4. Refer - To an appropriate medical or health professional for further assessment.

Following these steps can ensure that any brain trauma is managed diligently and hopefully brain health is kept at an optimum.

3. Top 5 Sports Associated with Highest Occurrence of Concussion(3)

So which sports are more likely to experience concussions? It should be noted that all sport has an element of concussion risk associated. However, according to ‘Complete Concussion’, the top sports with the highest chance of concussions include:

  1. Men’s rugby (3/1000)

  2. Men’s American football (2.5/1000)

  3. Women’s ice hockey (2.27/1000)

  4. Men’s ice hockey (1.63/1000)

  5. Women’s soccer (1.48/1000)

  6. Men’s soccer (1.48/1000).

Other sports with high occurrences of concussion can include: boxing, hockey, and wrestling.

4. How Can I Prevent Concussion?

  1. Ensure that you wear protective, well-fitting gear when playing sport

  2. Wear a firm fixed seatbelt to ensure protection against motor vehicle collisions

  3. Reduce risk of head injuries at home by use good lighting around areas of high risk, such as stairs, corners, windows, etc

  4. Exercise regularly

  5. A healthy and well balance diet – speak to your nutritionist here

  6. Educate others and promote the understanding of concussion amongst peers.

5. How Can Chiropractic Help?

As primary healthcare practitioners, Chiropractors are extremely likely to see individuals experiencing concussion. As such, Chiropractors serve to assist in the diagnosis of concussion, as well as its management.

During a concussion, often the cervical spine and the associated neurological structures can be damaged. Chiropractic treatments that can potentially assist in the management of concussion can include: mobilisation, manipulation, soft tissue therapy, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF)(7). Chiropractors can potentially help further in the recovery of concussion and mitigation of trauma to the nervous system. Find out more about Chiropractic care here.

So if you suspect concussion, ensure that you have a management plan in place, and a team to support you and your health.

 References:

  1. Sports Medicine Australia (2022). https://www.bnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Concussion-in-sport-policy.pdf

  2. Symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/symptoms.html. Accessed Nov. 22, 2019

  3. Complete Concussion “What sport has the most concussions?”, 2018. https://completeconcussions.com/concussion-research/concussion-rates-what-sport-most-concussions/

  4. Evans RW. Acute mild traumatic brain injury (concussion) in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Nov. 22, 2019

  5. Sprouse RA, et al. Sport-related concussion: How best to help young athletes. The Journal of Family Practice. 2016; https://www.mdedge.com/familymedicine/article/110762/neurology/sport-related-concussion-how-best-help-young-athletes. Accessed Nov. 22, 2019

  6. Recovery from concussion. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/concussion_recovery.html. Accessed Nov. 22, 2019

  7. Shannon, N., Patricios, J. Sports-related concussion: assessing the comprehension, collaboration, and contribution of chiropractors. Chiropr Man Therap 30, 60 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12998-022-00471-z

  8. Marshall CM, Vernon H, Leddy JJ, Baldwin BA. The role of the cervical spine in post-concussion syndrome. Phys Sportsmed. 2015;43(3):274–84

  9. Streifer M, Brown AM, Porfido T, Anderson EZ, Buckman JF, Esopenko C. The potential role of the cervical spine in sports-Related concussion: clinical perspectives and considerations for risk reduction. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2019;49(3):202–8

  10. Schneider KJ, Leddy JJ, Guskiewicz KM, Seifert T, McCrea M, Silverberg ND, et al. Rest and treatment/rehabilitation following sport-related concussion: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2017;51(12):930–4

Liam Hill
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