The G-forces required to cause a concussion (70–90 G's) far exceed the forces required to injure the cervical spine (4–7 G's). This means that if a concussion has occurred, a cervical spine injury has almost certainly occurred as well — yet most concussion protocols never evaluate the neck.
Citation: Pellman EJ, et al. Concussion in professional football: reconstruction of game impacts and injuries. Neurosurgery. 2003;53(4):799–814.
3.8M
Sports concussions per year in the U.S.
70–90G
G-forces in a concussion impact
4–7G
G-forces needed to injure the cervical spine
50%+
Of concussion patients develop post-concussion syndrome
The Missing Diagnosis
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that changes how the brain functions. It disrupts the normal communication between brain cells, triggering a neurometabolic cascade that can last days, weeks, or even months.
What is almost universally overlooked: the same impact that shakes the brain also violently whips the cervical spine. Because the forces required to injure the neck (4–7 G's) are a fraction of those in a concussion (70–90 G's), the cervical spine is injured in virtually every concussion — yet standard concussion protocols rarely include a structural spinal evaluation.
Unaddressed cervical spine injury is one of the primary drivers of post-concussion syndrome — the persistent headaches, dizziness, brain fog, neck pain, and visual disturbances that can linger for months after the initial injury.
The Science
Understanding the neurometabolic cascade — and why the neck is always involved
Because the upper cervical spine houses the same proprioceptive and autonomic nerve pathways implicated in post-concussion dizziness, headache, and cognitive fog — treating the neck IS treating the concussion.
The Gap in Standard Care
The conventional concussion protocol — rest, avoid screens, return-to-play checklist — was designed to manage the brain injury. It was never designed to evaluate or treat the cervical spine. This is why so many patients feel cleared on paper but still suffer.
No cervical spine imaging
Structural damage to the neck goes undetected and untreated for months or years
Symptom-only management
Medications mask pain without addressing the mechanical cause driving it
No postural assessment
Forward head posture and cervical kyphosis — common after concussion — are never identified
Return-to-play based on symptoms alone
Athletes return before the cervical spine has healed, dramatically increasing re-injury risk
No structural rehabilitation
Even when neck pain is acknowledged, treatment stops at pain relief — not structural correction
The Overlap That Traps Patients
Many post-concussion symptoms are identical whether they originate in the brain or the cervical spine. This overlap is why cervical spine injury is so frequently missed — and why a structural evaluation is essential.
When both brain and cervical spine can produce the same symptom, only a structural spinal evaluation can determine which is driving your condition.
Do You Recognize These?
Many of these symptoms originate not in the brain, but in the injured cervical spine and disrupted nerve pathways.
Our Protocol
Chiropractic BioPhysics® (CBP®) is the most researched corrective chiropractic technique in the world, with over 341 peer-reviewed studies. Our approach to concussion care goes beyond symptom management — we identify and correct the structural cervical spine damage that drives post-concussion syndrome.
We take precise digital X-rays to measure your cervical curve, head position, and spinal alignment. This reveals the exact structural damage caused by the concussion impact — invisible to standard neurological exams.
A comprehensive postural scan identifies imbalances in cervical alignment, head position, and nerve pathway function that contribute to post-concussion symptoms.
Using the E.A.T. protocol — Mirror Image® Exercises, Adjustments, and Traction — we systematically restore the cervical curve toward its ideal alignment, reducing nerve irritation and symptom load.
Specialized cervical extension traction restores the natural lordotic curve of the neck — the only proven non-surgical method to consistently correct abnormal cervical curvatures, as documented in CBP® clinical trials.
What to Expect
Recovery is not a single event — it is a structured, measurable process. Here is what to expect when you begin care at Omaha Headache Clinic.
Reduce acute pain, muscle spasm, and inflammation. Restore cervical range of motion. Establish baseline X-ray measurements of your cervical curve and head position.
Begin CBP® E.A.T. protocol — Mirror Image® Exercises, Adjustments, and cervical extension Traction. Systematically restore the cervical lordosis toward the Harrison Ideal Model. Re-examine at visit 36 with comparative X-rays.
Lock in structural gains. Prevent regression. Protect against re-injury. Most patients transition to monthly maintenance visits once near-normal alignment is achieved.
Evidence-Based Care
CBP® technique is backed by over 341 peer-reviewed studies published in indexed scientific journals. Here are key findings relevant to concussion and cervical spine rehabilitation:
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Restoration of cervical lordosis through CBP® traction methods has been shown to reduce neck pain, headache frequency, and neurological symptoms in clinical controlled trials.
Neurosurgery, 2003
Pellman et al. documented that concussion-level impacts (70–90 G's) far exceed the cervical injury threshold (4–7 G's), establishing that cervical spine injury is a near-universal companion to concussion.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Ferrantelli et al. demonstrated successful conservative management of previously unresponsive whiplash-associated disorders using CBP® methods, including full symptom resolution in chronic cases.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Haas et al. reported reduction of cluster headache symptoms in a patient with cervical kyphosis following CBP® structural correction — directly relevant to post-concussion headache patterns.
CBP® Technique: 341+ Peer-Reviewed Studies
Chiropractic BioPhysics® is one of the most extensively researched chiropractic techniques in the world. Our doctors are certified in CBP® and apply its evidence-based protocols to every concussion patient.
Learn more about CBP®Your Care Team
Both of our doctors hold Chiropractic BioPhysics® certification — the highest level of evidence-based structural chiropractic training available. They have helped hundreds of Omaha patients recover from concussion-related cervical spine injuries.
Dr. Johnson, D.C.
CBP® CertifiedFocus: Structural spinal rehabilitation, chronic post-concussion syndrome, cervical curve restoration
"The most important question I ask every concussion patient is: has anyone ever taken an X-ray of your neck? The answer is almost always no — and that is where we start."
Dr. Green, D.C.
CBP® CertifiedFocus: Headache disorders, postural correction, cervical spine rehabilitation, pediatric and youth athlete concussions
"Post-concussion syndrome is not a life sentence. When we identify and correct the cervical component, patients who have suffered for months or years often see dramatic improvement."
Patients We Serve
Football, soccer, hockey, and wrestling athletes who have sustained concussions and are experiencing lingering symptoms or repeat injuries.
Whiplash and head injuries from motor vehicle accidents that have left patients with persistent headaches, dizziness, and neck pain.
Head and neck injuries from falls at home, work, or in public spaces that have not fully resolved with standard medical care.
Patients whose concussion symptoms have persisted beyond 3 months and who have not found relief through conventional treatment.
Often Seen Together
Concussion rarely travels alone. These conditions frequently co-occur with cervical spine injury and respond well to CBP® structural care.
Headache originating from the cervical spine — one of the most common and most misdiagnosed post-concussion conditions.
Irritation of the occipital nerves at the base of the skull, causing shooting pain from the neck to the top of the head.
Cervical spine dysfunction is a known migraine trigger. Structural correction often reduces migraine frequency and severity.
Concussion impacts frequently accelerate postural deterioration, increasing the load on the cervical spine and brainstem.
Common Questions
Once acute symptoms (severe headache, vomiting, loss of consciousness) have been medically cleared — typically within 1–2 weeks — structural evaluation of the cervical spine is appropriate and beneficial. Early intervention often leads to better outcomes and faster recovery.
Yes. Many patients with chronic post-concussion syndrome have an underlying cervical spine injury that was never identified or treated. CBP® structural correction has helped patients with long-standing post-concussion symptoms achieve significant relief by addressing the cervical component.
CBP® care is gentle and evidence-based. We do not perform high-velocity manipulation in the acute phase. Our approach begins with precise X-ray analysis and progresses through carefully controlled traction and exercise protocols tailored to each patient's specific structural findings.
Most major insurance plans cover chiropractic care for injury-related conditions including post-concussion cervical spine injury. We recommend calling our office to verify your specific benefits before your first visit.
Absolutely. We believe in a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to concussion care. We are happy to coordinate with your neurologist, primary care physician, or sports medicine doctor to ensure comprehensive management of your recovery.
Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) is defined as concussion symptoms persisting beyond 3 months. Studies suggest 10–15% of concussion patients develop PCS. Symptoms can persist for years when the underlying cervical spine injury is not identified and treated. CBP® structural rehabilitation addresses the cervical component that standard concussion protocols miss.
Standard MRI and CT scans detect gross structural brain damage — bleeding, swelling, fractures. They do not detect the microscopic axonal injury of a concussion, nor do they image the cervical spine's structural alignment. A normal brain scan does not rule out cervical spine injury as the driver of your ongoing symptoms. This is precisely why a structural spinal evaluation is essential even after a normal neurological workup.
Yes. Youth athletes are among the most vulnerable concussion populations, and their developing spines are particularly susceptible to structural injury. Our doctors are experienced in treating pediatric and adolescent patients with age-appropriate, gentle CBP® protocols. Early intervention in young athletes is especially important to prevent long-term structural consequences.
If you or your athlete is experiencing post-concussion symptoms, the cervical spine may be the missing piece. Schedule a structural evaluation with our CBP®-certified doctors today.
18460 Wright Street, Suite 9 · Omaha, NE 68130 · Mon–Thu 8 AM–6 PM · Fri 8 AM–5 PM