Though we typically associate neck pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion with whiplash associated disorders, a symptom that’s gaining attention in the research community in recent years is mild-traumatic brain injury (mTBI), which is also known as concussion, post-concussive syndrome, and persistent post-concussion syndrome. In particular, it appears that chiropractic may have a role in managing whiplash-related mTBI.

A concussion occurs when the brain impacts the interior of the skull, even in the absence of direct head trauma. For example, the sudden back and forth motion characteristic of whiplash can lead to concussion even if the head does not strike the steering wheel, airbag, or headrest. The symptoms can vary, depending on the part (or parts) of the brain that are injured, as well as their severity. However, symptoms related to vision and visuospatial processing are very common.

How the brain processes visual information is important for how we navigate through space, but it’s not the only way the body accomplishes this task. Proprioception is the body’s ability to sense where its various parts are in relation to one another for purposes of movement and balance. This is accomplished by special sensory nerves in the skin, muscles, joints, and tendons that relay information to the spinal cord, which then proceeds through the neck to the brain. If tissues are injured in the cervical spine region—something very common in whiplash cases—then proprioceptive inputs may be impeded. This suggests that some of the symptoms associated with mTBI may be due to injury in two sites: the brain and the neck.

Chiropractors are trained in the delivery of various forms of manual therapy that aim to manage spinal articular dysfunction and the corresponding altered neurologic component associated with it. Spinal joint dysfunction can result in altered sensory input to the central nervous system, which modifies the way the brain processes and integrates sensory and proprioceptive input. Once spinal dysfunction is corrected, sensorimotor integration and cognitive function can improve.

Theoretically, if an individual with mTBI also sustained trauma to the cervical spine, then treatment to address spinal dysfunction should improve concussion symptoms. That’s exactly what researchers observed when young adults with mTBI received chiropractic care as part of their treatment plan. Compared with patients in a control group, those in the chiropractic group experienced better outcomes in relation to vision and visuospatial processing, leading the research team to conclude that chiropractic has a role in managing concussion symptoms in patients who have also sustained neck injury, such as those involved in motor vehicle collisions.