The Role of the Neck in Concussion.
Both concussion and whiplash are due to acceleration and deceleration forces applied to the head, neck or body. Concussion causes the brain to accelerate and decelerate within the skull, while whiplash is due to acceleration or deceleration of the neck.
Studies using instrumented helmets on high school and college football players in the United States have shown that concussions occur at between 60-120G of linear acceleration (where G = Force of Gravity). In addition, other studies examining whiplash injuries have shown that it only takes 4.5G of acceleration to result in a strain injury to the neck. Given these findings, concurrent injury to the cervical spine is acknowledged as a potential source of common persistent concussion symptoms such as headache, dizziness and neck pain
Research has suggested that abnormal somatosensory afferents arising from the muscle spindles, joint and pain receptors, or nerve roots of the neck contribute to some headaches as well as vertigo or dizziness. In further research, one group of people diagnosed with concussion, and another diagnosed with whiplash were tested; the researchers expected the concussion group would report more headaches, visual problems, memory problems and cognitive problems and that the whiplash group would report more neck pain, surprisingly, they found that there were no differences between symptoms reported between the two groups.
There are direct interactions of cervical afferents with part of the brain (the vestibular nuclei, superior colliculi, and central cervical nuclei). These structures help coordinate important reflexes required for vision and balance; in concussion, we find impaired function in both areas. Most cervicogenic symptoms have been attributed to injury or impairment of the upper cervical spine (C1–C3).
If you have had a concussion, ask for help we can assess all factors associated with a concussion including your neck.
