Concussion Care in Amherst

Man with concussion You’ve been cleared to return to work, school, or sports, but something still doesn’t feel right. Maybe the headaches keep coming back. Or you sit down to finish a task and realize you can’t concentrate the way you used to.

At Spurback Family Chiropractic, our chiropractors look beyond your symptoms to consider your nervous system, injury history, and any associated spinal concerns.

Why Your Nervous System Matters

A concussion affects how the brain functions, and recovery doesn’t always follow a predictable timeline. Headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and trouble concentrating can sometimes linger for weeks or months.

Your autonomic nervous system helps regulate automatic functions, including heart rate and the body’s response to stress. It has two main branches: the sympathetic nervous system, associated with the body’s fight-or-flight response, and the parasympathetic nervous system, associated with rest and recovery.

Think of it like a car’s gas and brake pedals. Both have a role, and the balance between them can change in response to stress or injury.

Researchers are studying how concussions may affect autonomic function. Persistent symptoms deserve medical follow-up, and our chiropractic assessment considers this broader picture.

What Can the INSIGHT™ Scans Tell Us?

Rather than relying on symptoms alone, we also use INSIGHT technology to gather additional information during your assessment. Depending on the patient, this may include:

Surface EMG: Measures electrical activity associated with muscles along the spine, helping identify differences in muscle activity.
Heart rate variability (HRV): Measures variations in the time between heartbeats, providing information related to autonomic nervous system activity.
Thermal scanning: Measures temperature differences along the skin, offering another piece of information for consideration.

Please note: these measurements don’t diagnose concussions, identify brain damage, or establish whether the nervous system has recovered. They provide supplementary information that your chiropractor considers alongside your history and examination findings.

Old Injuries Can Be Worth Revisiting

Was this your first concussion? Or have you taken a few hard knocks over the years?

Here in Amherst, lacrosse, hockey, and football are part of life for many families. We’ll also ask about previous sports injuries, car accidents, falls, and other physical stressors.

Another part of our approach involves the three T’s: trauma, toxins, and thoughts. These describe physical injuries, chemical or environmental exposures, and emotional stress. Sleep, hydration, and everyday habits are part of the conversation, too. After all, your health history involves more than the injury that brought you in.

Looking at the Neck and Nervous System Together

The same impact that caused a concussion may also have strained the muscles or joints in your neck.

Your evaluation includes an examination of spinal movement, muscle tension, and any associated neck discomfort. We may also review scan measurements to better understand patterns of muscle activity and autonomic function.

If you’re receiving ongoing chiropractic care, repeat measurements may help document changes in those readings over time. They aren’t a substitute for medical concussion monitoring or clearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can chiropractic scans tell when my child can return to sports?

No. INSIGHT scans cannot determine concussion recovery or readiness to return to play. A qualified medical provider should guide that decision.

What if my concussion happened years ago?

Our team can still assess associated neck discomfort, movement restrictions, and other chiropractic concerns, even if the original injury happened years ago.

Is rest enough after a concussion?

Brief relative rest is generally recommended initially, followed by a gradual return to activity under medical guidance. Persistent symptoms warrant further medical evaluation.

Looking Beyond the Symptoms

Still feeling foggy, dealing with headaches, or wondering whether an old injury may be related to your neck discomfort? At Spurback Family Chiropractic, we’ll listen to your history, assess relevant spinal concerns, and explain how nervous system measurements fit into your chiropractic evaluation. Contact us today to schedule an evaluation.

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