A concussion is a result of a rapid movement of your head. A concussion can result from many activities such as collision, falling, tripping or even shaking your head up and down or side to side as in a rock concert.   Car accidents, sports injuries, slips and falls can all cause a concussion. Depending on the amount and direction of the force, vasculature in the brain can strain and internal bleeding may occur. Also damage is possible in the neurons, neuronal centers and glial brain tissue which support the various brain functions and actions.  The symptoms can be mild to very severe and can include dizziness, vertigo, fogginess, headache, head pain, forgetfulness, ringing in the ears, a feeling of tightness in and around the head and many other signs and symptoms associated with concussions. In fact symptoms may not show up until later, sometimes a year or more after the original incident. This is referred to as post concussion syndrome and can include emotional and behavioral symptoms and pain, a person may become more irritable and aggressive.  Anxiety, depression, apathy and other changes in personality may also occur in severe concussion.

Simply put, a concussion causes a disruption of the craniosacral mechanism. A person experiencing feelings of "foggy" headedness or difficulty remembering recent events may be expressing thinking / remembering signs of concussion. Headaches or sensitivity to light and noise is a physical indication of concussion. Onset of irritability, sadness, or anxiety without obvious cause can point to emotional / mood related concussion symptoms. And any change in the sleep pattern, whether more or less, may indicate a concussion has occurred as well. All of these symptoms may not occur at the same time or may be very mild, therefore, at the indication of any of them it is important to be evaluated.

Children are often unable to communicate physical signs of concussion. Other signs to look for in children include dazed appearance, excessive crying, change in eating patterns, lack of interest, lack of sleep and tiring easily. On rare occasions blood clots may form as a result of a concussion and danger signs should be taken very seriously. In children these signs include headache that does not go away and gets worse, weakness and loss of coordination, chronic vomiting and nausea, and slurred speech. In which case a visit to the emergency room, immediately is necessary to be cleared for any further intervention.

Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle hands on treatment that accesses the nervous system via the cranium (skull), sacrum (tailbone), dural tube (surrounding the spinal cord),  This system helps to enhance the production and distribution of cerebrospinal fluid throughout the body. Cerebrospinal fluid is an essential element that feeds brain cells and buffers a head impact.  This fluid is produced in the brain, and through the movement of the cranial bones, is circulated down the spinal column. The effects of providing this hands on attention to the craniosacral system for those suffering from post concussion syndrome can be profound at relieving symptoms offering an avenue that encourages the person's own natural healing mechanism.  Craniosacral therapy is fundamentally an approach that encourages the body to self regulate and heal.

Elizabeth Sandel, M.D. a nationally recognized brain injury specialist, has stated craniosacral therapy can be effective at treating headaches, as well as neck and back pain that are common with post-concussion syndrome.

Concussion in football is commonplace and one healed advocate of Craniosacral Therapy is an NFL player by the name of Ricky Williams who has benefited greatly from CST. And to learn more about craniosacral Therapy and the treatment of Concussion you can visit the Upledger Institute website.