:©Keith Seidel
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Whether from a car accident or a sports related injury from football or soccer, or a chance impact to our heads from a falling rock from above, or us falling and hitting our heads, sustaining a concussion is serious and should not go unnoticed.

SYMPTOMS AND EFFECTS

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “a concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth.” This jostling can cause your brain to bounce around in your skull, possibly stretching and damaging the cells and tissues. 
There are a variety of both short-term and long-term effects from concussions and TBIs. Most of the effects of mild TBIs have to do with one or more of the following areas: thinking, sensation, language, and/or emotion. Severe TBIs can result in permanent disability and even death, and are a contributing factor in 30% of injury-related deaths in the U.S.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE A CONCUSSION?

How do we know if someone has a concussion? It can be difficult to diagnose, since many of the signs and symptoms are shared and confused with other conditions. The first question to ask is, “is there a mechanism of injury that would cause a TBI?” In other words, did you see a ball hit someone in the head, or did you see them trip and fall? If you did not actually see the incident, look for other clues like a dented helmet or a cut on the head.
If you cannot find any clues to indicate a mechanism of injury that would produce a TBI, look for important signs and symptoms that can help you figure out what is going on. The CDC divides these up into four main categories, with multiple signs and symptoms for a mild TBI under each:

THINKING/ REMEMBERING
·          Loss of consciousness (even briefly)
·         Difficulty thinking clearly
·         Feeling slowed down
·         Difficulty concentrating
·         Difficulty remembering new information

​PHYSICAL
·         Headache
·         Fuzzy/ blurred vision
·         Nausea or vomiting
·         Dizziness
·         Sensitivity to noise or light
·         Balance problems
·         Feeling tired, having no energy

 EMOTIONAL/ MOOD
·         Irritability
·         Sadness
·         More emotional than normal
·         Nervousness or anxiety
 
SLEEP
·         Sleeping more than usual
·         Sleeping less than usual
·         Trouble falling asleep

Some or even none of these signs or symptoms may appear right away. Others may come on once the person starts physically exerting his or herself more, while still others may not present until much later.
 
According to Dr. Yost, at Full Spectrum Chiropractic in Olympia WA,  patients that do not have a loss of consciousness, amnesia or seizures should be monitored for 1 - 2 hours for the signs and symptoms mentioned earlier. Staying off screens like phones ipads etc, and giving your brain some rest is recommended.
Dr. Yost further recommends that if signs and symptoms do develop, visit an urgent care facility near you or Emergency room. (this is the same for a patient who has experienced a loss of consciousness, amnesia or seizures).
Dr. Yost also recommends that if a patient’s signs and symptoms increase during the minimal exertion needed to travel to an urgent care facility, they should be carried or transported and with increased urgency. Dr. Yost also stresses that, “concussed patients avoid a second traumatic blow and should not self-evacuate via bike or skis or any method involving speed or jolting.”
Though it should be noted that there are situations when an immediate, rapid evacuation is necessary. There are some critical danger signs to watch out for that could alert you to the need for a rapid evacuation:

·       Headache that gets worse and does not go away
·       Weakness, numbness or decreased coordination
·       Repeated vomiting or nausea
·       Slurred speech
·       The patient looks very drowsy or cannot be woken up
·       One pupil is a different size than the other
·       Convulsions or seizures
·       Unable to recognize people or places
·       Getting more and more confused/ restless/ agitated
·       Loss of consciousness some time after the initial injury

 
Dr. Yost emphasizes that a patient who is unresponsive, or is only voice or pain responsive after a blow to the head requires a rapid evacuation and urgent medical attention.
Hopefully you will never have, or need to treat someone with, a concussion or TBI. 

Post-Concussion Syndrome
Adults ages 20 through 64 who were diagnosed with a concussion in 2015 were subsequently diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome 15.7 percent of the time, which was a higher rate than ages 10 through 19 at 12.4 percent.

Cranial sacral work, acupuncture, and chiropractic care at Full Spectrum Chiropractic pllc are all recommended support for those recovering from a concussion or TBI from an auto accident or  sports injury.

Key Words: Concussion, TBI, Whiplash, Headache, neck pain, head pain, sports injury, post-concussion syndrome, car accident

​Single leg eccentric squat and jump
Standing on one leg, engage core and slowly sit down to a chair (count of 3 seconds) then explode out of chair as fast as possible jumping on the same leg with a soft controlled landing.  That is 1 repetition. The goal should be 5 reps x 2 sets for this exercise.

​References
Stenroos A, Handolin L. Incidence of Recreational Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding Injuries: Six Years Experience in the Largest Ski Resort in Finland. Scand J Surg. 2015;104(2):127-31.
Hébert-losier K, Holmberg HC. What are the exercise-based injury prevention recommendations for recreational alpine skiing and snowboarding? A systematic review. Sports Med. 2013;43(5):355-66.
Nessler T, Denney L, Sampley J. ACL Injury Prevention: What Does Research Tell Us?. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2017

Here's why you might benefit more from a graston massage treatment.

Soft tissue manipulation is used to treat and heal specific areas of the body afflicted by tension, pain, and immobility.
It is accomplished through many different techniques, but you're probably most familiar with deep tissue massage.
However, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), also known as GRASTON TECHNIQUE, HAWK GRIPS, MIYODAC, FAKTR, is gaining a lot of attention among chiropractors and their clients, and for good reason.
Here we discuss the differences between deep tissue massage and IASTM, and why you may benefit more from the latter.
Hands vs Instruments- The most significant difference between deep tissue massage and Graston massage treatment is this: Deep tissue massage relies solely on the hands of an individual, while Graston massage uses tools in the hands of an individual. Thus, it is commonly referred to as IASTM, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Massage/Manipulation.
Many IASTM treatments have been used for centuries within holistic medicine. It is similar to the traditional Chinese medical treatment Gua Sha, said to release unhealthy elements of the skin and stimulate healing.
The Graston method uses stainless steel instruments that have various edges and angles designed specifically to break up lactic acid and fibrous tissue (also known as scar tissue).
Scar tissue can arise after an injury, where the body quickly lays down new fibers in a chaotic fashion to protect itself by limiting movement and sometimes perhaps even causing pain.
Targeting- Both deep tissue massage and Graston massage focus on breaking up this "bad" tissue. Graston, though, is more proficient thanks to the instruments being used to deal with adhesions of the fascia.
Research shows that using tools designed for neurophysiological results is more effective in altering soft tissue than manual therapy.
Instruments used for Graston massage actually "detect" where trouble areas lie by providing greater sensory feedback of facial adhesions than a practitioner's finger pads. This makes targeting scar tissue more precise and therapy more effective than traditional deep tissue massage.
Efficiency-Chiropractors are not massage therapists. We aim to relieve tension and pain while increasing range of motion in the most efficient manner possible. Graston has proven to do just that.
Quicker Results- One of the most significant reasons for using IASTM as opposed to deep tissue massage is that the results of breaking up fascial adhesions are achieved much quicker. A typical session of IASTM is less than 15 minutes.
Treatment Versus HealingDeep tissue massage and IASTM have a common goal: to reach deeper layers of the muscle and the fascia.
Yet, here's the difference.
While deep tissue massage is traditionally used as a treatment for pain, stress, stiffness, and soreness, IASTM therapy is often used to heal various disorders such as carpel tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, as well as injuries like sprains or strains.
Healing Powers-Clinical studies suggest that the IASTM technique shortens rehabilitation time and may be an improved technique for healing injuries of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Graston helps to quickly replace scar tissue with new healthy tissue, which is why many professional athletes turn to IASTM after sustaining injuries.
It has also been shown to treat and heal chronic pain, as well as many disorders
​such as fibromyalgia and plantar fasciitis.
Prevention- In some cases, IASTM can help prevent surgery from physical-activity-induced injuries such as torn or strained muscles, as well as traumas sustained from car accidents that result in scar tissue.
When scar tissue builds up under the skin, it causes adhesions and prevents the fascia (called fascia restriction) as well as muscles, tendons, and ligaments from moving efficiently. This leads to tightness and tension that can hinder everyday life.
IASTM breaks up these adhesions, releasing pain and restoring the ability for mobility of the organs under the skin and fascia.
Thus, advocates argue to try IASTM first, before turning to surgical procedures related to scar tissue and adhesions.
In addition, it can significantly reduce reliance on pharmaceuticals such as pain relievers, muscle relaxers, and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Targeting Fascia- You may be wondering, "What in the world is fascia?" You're definitely not alone.
It turns out, this neat part of human biology is actually really important and could be the cause of a lot of tension, pain, and injury.
Fascia is a layer of connective tissue that covers and protects our soft organs and enables blood flow throughout the entire body. It allows for transitioning movements.
When there are distortions in the fascia, it can cause serious pain, discomfort, and affect nearby body parts. It can also lead to kinks in the circulatory system.
Tight fascia can influence the nervous system as well, blocking nerve signals that are necessary for coordination and sometimes causing nerve pain.
While deep tissue massage does target the fascia, IASTM makes it easier to smooth out distorted fascia by applying even pressure like a rolling pin and dough.
When you use the roller, the dough spreads evenly.
When you use your hands, you're likely to come away with some bumps and an uneven product, right?
So, again, we are back to the benefit that IASTM is more effective and promotes quicker healing when compared to deep tissue massage.
IASTM and Graston Massage are Good for Your Skin-Yep. You heard that right.
It can not only improve the look of your skin, but it may also help you get rid of cellulite.
Cellulite is caused by the way the fat is distributed within the fascia connective tissue.
When fat pushes through the fascia, it can become stuck and create the dents known as cellulite.
People are using Graston massage to decrease cellulite. The treatments stretch the connective tissues, evening it out and removing those crevices.
Skin Care-When fascia becomes irregular, it blocks elastin and collagen from getting to the skin. An IASTM treatment breaks downs those distortions, allowing the proteins to do their job and give your skin a boost.
In addition, IASTM also increases cellular activity and blood flow, which has an effect on the appearance of our skin.
Give it a Try Today-These are some of the ways IASTM and Graston massage can be more beneficial than deep tissue massage.
At Full Spectrum Chiropractic PLLC, we are experts in caring for patients with back pain, neck pain, headaches, spine and joint pain, and disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous system.
Schedule an appointment today to discuss how we may be of service to you today.
KEY WORDS:
​GRASTON TECHNIQUE, HAWK GRIPS, MIYODAC, FAKTR, DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE