Stress is felt from a concussion and dysfunction occurs from three major categories: thoughts, traumas, and toxins. In this blog, I will be addressing the “trauma” component-specifically in concussion type injuries.
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a type of injury that occurs when the head comes in contact with an object, or when intense movement occurs, even if there has not been direct contact- like whiplash. Concussions are common especially in athletes who play contact sports and can occur in individuals in car accidents. But concussions can come from a variety of sources.
After a physical injury occurs, our nervous system has to try and adapt to continue functioning and also heal. Healing takes time, and with concussions, symptoms sometimes don’t even appear for up to a year. This is a perfect example of why addressing function is much more important than addressing pain! You may not be getting daily headaches, but if your balance is off or if you have brain fog, you realize that the injury is still effecting function.
How can CranioSacral Therapy help?
Craniosacral therapy is a great way to help the body reach a state of relaxation that is optimal for healing. Craniosacral therapy is a low force technique that removes “bogginess” from our nervous system so it functions as it should. When our nervous system structures (cerebrospinal fluid, membranes, brain, etc.) are functioning with a higher capacity to adapt to stressors, we process things better, make better decisions, have more space to thrive instead of barely surviving, have healthier relationships, sleep better, and experience less depression and anxiety. The list goes on and on!
When the trauma occurs, various brain tissue and structures are affected. This may sound scary, as your brain is arguably one of your most important body parts! We want to make sure the brain and surrounding structures are properly supported. Craniosacral therapy helps that. There is often an imbalance that occurs in the cranial bones after physical trauma. The body will be affected differently depending on the direction, speed and impact zone of the force. If you were hit by an object on the right side of your head, imagine how that will have a different injury than the left side of the head. With Craniosacral therapy we feel where the imbalances are, often along the suture lines, and where there is more “pressure” or less movement. Making sure your cerebrospinal fluid is moving fluidly and normally throughout the brain and spinal cord greatly impacts your healing ability for the better!
Check out this article for more information and visuals on the craniosacral system!
-Dr. Sophie Mills, D.C.