Chiropractic for Concussion Treatment: Research, Recovery & Post-Concussion Care

QUICK SUMMARY

Chiropractic for concussion treatment has moved far beyond the days when the idea sounded unusual. Modern concussion care recognizes that head trauma can involve more than the brain alone. The cervical spine, vestibular system, eyes, balance pathways, autonomic nervous system, and musculoskeletal system can all contribute to symptoms that linger after a concussion.

The 2023 Amsterdam International Consensus on Concussion in Sport specifically includes sports chiropractors among the healthcare professionals who may participate in a multidisciplinary concussion network, and it recommends cervicovestibular rehabilitation when neck pain, headache, dizziness, or balance problems persist. (5)

Chiropractic-specific research has also grown considerably. A 2024 randomized controlled trial in 40 young adults with persistent post-concussion symptoms found that a chiropractic intervention improved several measures of gaze stability and selective attention compared with an active control, although one pursuit-tracking measure worsened. Chiropractic journals also report case series and case reports involving upper-cervical care, spinal manipulation, soft-tissue work, vestibular and oculomotor rehabilitation, TMJ co-management, and individualized return-to-play care. (10, 11, 16)

The practical takeaway is not that every concussion needs an adjustment. It is that a concussion-trained chiropractor can be an important member of the care team, especially when neck pain, cervicogenic headache, dizziness, visual problems, balance dysfunction, or persistent symptoms are part of the picture.

Any suspected sports concussion should mean immediate removal from play. New or worsening neurologic danger signs, repeated vomiting, seizures, increasing confusion, inability to wake normally, slurred speech, unequal pupils, significant weakness or numbness, or a worsening severe headache require urgent medical evaluation. (6)

Going to a chiropractor for concussion treatment was hardly part of the public conversation until hockey superstar Sidney Crosby suffered a series of concussions beginning in January 2011.

For months, his hockey-playing future looked uncertain.

Then Crosby's medical team expanded.

One of the clinicians he worked with was Canadian-born chiropractor Dr. Ted Carrick, whose work focused heavily on neurological, vestibular, visual, and sensorimotor rehabilitation. ESPN reported in January 2012 that Crosby was returning to Carrick because lingering dizziness and headaches had continued after his earlier concussion recovery. (1)

The story captured attention because this was not a fringe athlete looking for an unconventional shortcut. This was one of the best hockey players in the world, surrounded by a major professional medical team, adding chiropractic neurological care to a difficult concussion recovery.

And it opened a conversation that has become much more relevant today:

What role can chiropractors play in concussion treatment and post-concussion recovery?

Sidney Crosby & Chiropractic Case Study

Sidney Crosby's concussion story deserves to stay in this article because it helped introduce millions of people to the idea that concussion recovery can involve the eyes, neck, balance system, and neurological rehabilitation, not simply sitting in a dark room and waiting.

Crosby suffered a concussion in January 2011 and missed the remainder of that NHL season plus much of the next one.

During his recovery, he worked with multiple specialists, including University of Pittsburgh concussion experts and chiropractor Ted Carrick.

ESPN reported that Carrick worked with Crosby when his progress had slowed and that Crosby returned to him in January 2012 when dizziness and headaches persisted. ABC News later reported that Crosby praised Carrick for helping save his career. (1, 4)

That does not mean chiropractic care was the only reason Crosby recovered.

It does mean chiropractic neurological care was part of the multidisciplinary treatment process Crosby himself valued.

And what happened afterward is remarkable.

During the 2013-2014 NHL season, Crosby played 80 games and led the league with:

• 36 goals
• 68 assists
• 104 total points

He won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL scoring leader and the Hart Trophy as league MVP. (2)

That same year he captained Team Canada to Olympic gold in Sochi, his second Olympic gold medal. (3)

Crosby's story does not prove that one chiropractic treatment protocol cures concussion.

It does something else that is valuable.

It shows how important it can be to look beyond a one-dimensional model when symptoms do not resolve as expected.

What Ted Carrick's Approach Highlighted

Functional neurology and chiropractic neurology use examination and rehabilitation strategies that may include:

• Eye movements
• Visual tracking
• Balance
• Vestibular function
• Coordination
• Proprioception
• Cervical-spine function
• Graded neurological exercises

Not every chiropractor practices this way.

That is why the updated recommendation is not simply, “Any concussion equals an adjustment.”

The better recommendation is to find a chiropractor with specific concussion, sports, neurological, vestibular, or rehabilitation training when those skills are needed.

The Problem With Concussion Treatment

Concussion care has changed dramatically since the original version of this article.

The older chiropractic literature correctly pointed out that there was no universally accepted “gold standard” protocol and that doctors varied considerably in how they managed concussion.

We know much more now.

The 2023 Amsterdam International Consensus on Concussion in Sport was built from multiple systematic reviews and an international multidisciplinary consensus process. It introduced updated SCAT6, Child SCAT6, SCOAT6, and Child SCOAT6 tools and moved treatment further away from prolonged strict rest toward individualized active recovery. (5)

Yet one challenge remains exactly the same:

A concussion is not one identical injury with one identical symptom pattern.

One patient may primarily have:

• Headache
• Neck pain
• Dizziness
• Visual tracking problems
• Light or noise sensitivity
• Exercise intolerance
• Brain fog
• Sleep disturbance
• Emotional symptoms

Another patient may have a completely different combination.

That is why treating “the concussion” as one generic diagnosis can miss the specific systems that are actually keeping symptoms alive.

Concussion Symptoms Can Come From More Than the Brain

This is one of the most important updates in modern concussion care.

The Amsterdam consensus explicitly notes that persistent symptoms may involve cervical, vestibular, oculomotor, headache, migraine, sleep, mental-health, autonomic, learning, attention, and pain-related factors. (5)

The neck matters because the same blow that accelerates the head can also injure or dysregulate cervical muscles, joints, ligaments, and proprioceptive pathways.

Symptoms from cervical dysfunction can overlap with classic post-concussion complaints:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Balance problems
• Visual disturbance
• Neck pain
• Difficulty concentrating

A 2019 chiropractic case series in the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic highlighted this overlap, noting that upper-cervical dysfunction can produce symptoms that resemble persistent post-concussion syndrome and arguing for a careful craniocervical examination. Six patients with symptoms lasting at least six weeks improved across several headache, dizziness, neck-disability, and post-concussion measures during a 12-week course of NUCCA upper-cervical care. (11)

That study was a case series, not a randomized trial.

But it remains clinically valuable because it documents what happened in real patients and raises a testable question: how much of persistent “concussion” symptomatology is being maintained by cervical dysfunction in a subset of people?

PubMed Is Not the Only Place Chiropractic Research Lives

One reason chiropractic concussion research can be overlooked is that PubMed does not index every chiropractic journal.

The Index to Chiropractic Literature is maintained by the Chiropractic Library Collaboration, a working group of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges, and indexes peer-reviewed chiropractic literature from journals that may not appear in PubMed. (23)

For this update, chiropractic research is evaluated by what the study actually is, not by whether PubMed happens to index the journal.

A randomized controlled trial is identified as an RCT.

A case series is identified as a case series.

A case report is identified as a case report.

But a peer-reviewed chiropractic case report does not become meaningless simply because it is indexed in ICL rather than PubMed.

Treating Sports-Related Concussions Today

The old estimate that 1.6 to 3.8 million sports-related traumatic brain injuries occur annually is still quoted frequently, but modern surveillance gives us better ways to describe the burden.

CDC now reports that about 7 out of 10 emergency-department visits for sports- and recreation-related TBIs and concussions involve children age 17 or younger. (7)

That does not capture every concussion because many athletes never go to an emergency department.

And that is one reason parents, coaches, trainers, chiropractors, physicians, and athletes all need to know what a concussion can look like.

Common symptoms include:

• Balance problems or dizziness
• Being bothered by light or noise
• Confusion
• Double or blurry vision
• Difficulty remembering or paying attention
• Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
• Feeling irritable, more emotional, or down
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting, especially early
• Slowed thinking or reaction time
• Sleep changes

Loss of consciousness can happen, but it is not required for a concussion.

Symptoms may appear immediately or emerge over the following hours or days. (6)

Do Not “Play Through” a Suspected Concussion

This part is non-negotiable.

If an athlete may have a concussion, remove them from play immediately.

CDC's current HEADS UP guidance says an athlete with a suspected concussion should be removed from sports participation right away, kept out for the rest of that day, and not returned to sport until appropriately evaluated and cleared through a graduated process. (24)

The old model of “shake it off and get back out there” is dangerous.

Strict Dark-Room Rest Is Also Outdated

The pendulum used to swing the opposite direction: complete cognitive and physical rest until every symptom disappeared.

Modern concussion research does not support prolonged “cocooning.”

The Amsterdam consensus recommends relative rest for the first 24 to 48 hours, including activities of daily living and reduced screen time, followed by gradual light physical activity that does not more than mildly worsen symptoms. (5)

For children, CDC says most can return to school within one to two days, often while some symptoms are still present, with temporary accommodations based on the child's needs. (22)

That is a major change from the old “do nothing until symptom-free” approach.

What If Symptoms Last?

The Amsterdam consensus uses the term persisting symptoms when symptoms continue longer than four weeks.

When neck pain, headache, dizziness, or balance problems persist for more than about 10 days, cervicovestibular rehabilitation is specifically recommended. (5)

This is precisely where chiropractic assessment can become especially relevant.

If the cervical spine, proprioceptive system, vestibular pathways, or musculoskeletal injuries are helping maintain symptoms, simply resting longer may never address the whole problem.

How Chiropractors Help With Concussion Treatment

Chiropractors with specific post-graduate coursework in sports injuries, concussion, neurology, vestibular rehabilitation, or related areas can be very well suited to participate in concussion care.

If possible, consider having your chiropractor and medical provider co-manage the case when symptoms are significant, prolonged, complex, or affecting return to sport.

That team approach is no longer outside the mainstream concussion model.

The Amsterdam consensus lists sports chiropractors alongside sports medicine physicians, physiotherapists, athletic trainers, occupational therapists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, optometrists, psychologists, and other clinicians who may contribute to a concussion-care network. (5)

1. Recognizing and Assessing a Concussion

Doctors of Chiropractic may evaluate concussion patients within their training and jurisdiction, and sports-certified chiropractors have been studying concussion assessment for years.

A survey of 76 sports-certified chiropractors found:

• 100% believed concussion evaluation should be performed by a healthcare provider with specific concussion training.
• 96% reported assessing or managing concussion in adults.
• 95% reported doing so in adolescents.
• 75% reported doing so in children.
• 79% considered the then-current SCAT3 an appropriate sideline assessment tool.

(9)

The exact assessment tools have since advanced to SCAT6 and Child SCAT6, but the principle has not changed:

Chiropractors caring for athletes need concussion-specific training, current assessment tools, and the judgment to refer immediately when the injury is outside conservative care.

A 2020 case report in the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic illustrates that role. A 10-year-old basketball player sustained a concussion that went unrecognized for three days. She later presented to a chiropractic clinic with headache and neck, thoracic, and low-back pain. The chiropractors used concussion assessment and neurocognitive tools, identified the missed concussion, managed her musculoskeletal injuries, and guided her return to school and sport. (13)

2. Evaluating the Cervical Spine

One of chiropractic's greatest contributions to concussion care may be recognizing that the neck was injured too.

The force that moves the brain inside the skull also moves the head on the cervical spine.

Post-concussion headache may therefore have:

• A brain-related component
• A migraine component
• A cervical joint component
• A muscular component
• A vestibular component
• More than one of these at the same time

The chiropractic literature has repeatedly emphasized the similarity between persistent concussion symptoms and cervical injury.

A 2019 Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic case series documented improvement in six patients with persistent post-concussion syndrome during low-force NUCCA upper-cervical care. The study tracked the Rivermead Post-Concussion Questionnaire, Neck Disability Index, Headache Disability Index, and Dizziness Handicap Inventory at baseline and during care. (11)

In 2025, a study in the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic evaluated 25 people with occipito-atlantal dysfunction. After a two-week control period followed by 2 to 6 weeks of spinal manipulation focused on the atlanto-occipital region and other dysfunctional areas, researchers reported significant improvements in cervical range of motion and multiple measures of neck proprioception. (21)

That was not a concussion trial, but it strengthens the physiological rationale for evaluating upper-cervical proprioception when a concussion patient has dizziness, balance disturbance, visual instability, or neck dysfunction.

3. Addressing Cervicogenic Headache and Neck Pain

Headache is one of the most common concussion symptoms.

But not every post-concussion headache is generated by the same mechanism.

The original article highlighted a 2011 report involving a 16-year-old male athlete with post-concussion neck pain and daily headaches. After a short course of chiropractic cervical and thoracic manipulation, the report documented significant relief after the second visit and resolution of symptoms after five visits over two weeks, followed by a graduated return to play. (18)

That case is worth preserving because it illustrates a pattern chiropractors see clinically:

The concussion may begin with the head impact, but persistent symptoms can include a treatable cervical component.

A 2020 Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic report similarly described a 15-year-old male with post-concussion syndrome and whiplash who received spinal manipulation, soft-tissue care, stretching, hydration advice, and interdisciplinary concussion-clinic monitoring over eight weeks. His symptoms improved during care. (25)

4. Vestibular, Balance, and Eye-Movement Rehabilitation

This is one area where modern concussion care has changed the most.

Dizziness after a concussion should not automatically be treated as “just part of the brain injury.”

Vestibular function, eye movement, cervical proprioception, visual motion sensitivity, and balance all need to be considered.

The Amsterdam consensus recommends cervicovestibular rehabilitation for persistent dizziness, neck pain, and headache, and the evidence base includes randomized research showing faster medical clearance in patients receiving combined cervical and vestibular rehabilitation compared with standard care alone. (5, 26)

Chiropractors with appropriate training may incorporate or coordinate:

• Balance exercises
• Gaze-stability work
• Oculomotor exercises
• Vestibular rehabilitation
• Cervical proprioceptive training
• Graded exertion
• Soft-tissue care
• Spinal manipulation or mobilization when appropriate

5. Identifying When the Jaw and Craniofacial System Are Involved

Head trauma can involve the temporomandibular joint, jaw muscles, clenching patterns, and craniofacial structures too.

A 2021 peer-reviewed case report in the Asia-Pacific Chiropractic Journal described a 21-year-old woman with five months of persistent post-concussion symptoms, altered TMJ function, photophobia, contrast sensitivity, convergence insufficiency, brain fog, nausea, and lightheadedness. Her interdisciplinary care included chiropractic, cranial and TMJ procedures plus dental appliance management. The report documented complete symptom resolution and return to exercise. (27)

A 2024 Asia-Pacific Chiropractic Journal case described a professional ice hockey player whose post-concussion symptoms had remained relatively stable for nine months. Chiropractic care included cervical, thoracic, and lumbar adjustments, soft-tissue therapy, cranial procedures, and dental/TMJ co-management. The authors reported resolution of the presenting symptoms and return to regular play after 10 visits over four weeks. (16)

These reports do not mean that every concussion is a jaw problem.

They remind us to examine the entire head-neck-jaw system when symptoms are not resolving.

6. Coordinating Return to Learn and Return to Play

One of the most important jobs in concussion care is protecting the athlete from returning too soon.

A chiropractor involved in sports concussion management should understand:

• Current return-to-learn progression
• Current return-to-sport progression
• Exercise tolerance
• Neurocognitive and neurologic findings
• Vestibular and oculomotor findings
• School accommodations
• When medical clearance is required

CDC's current six-step return-to-play progression requires healthcare-provider supervision, with each step typically taking at least 24 hours. (24)

The athlete should not jump from “I feel better today” directly back into full-contact play.

7. Knowing When Not to Adjust

A good chiropractor must be just as skilled at recognizing contraindications as delivering an adjustment.

Head trauma can occasionally involve cervical fracture, instability, vascular injury, or other serious pathology.

A 2019 chiropractic case report described an unstable cervical spine fracture in a surfer who initially presented with what looked like concussion and only low-grade neck pain. That kind of case is a reminder that post-trauma screening matters before cervical manipulation is considered. (28)

Some upper-cervical chiropractic procedures use precise radiographic analysis of the occiput and cervical vertebrae as part of technique-specific evaluation.

The original article recommended this type of imaging broadly after concussion. Today, I would make the distinction that imaging decisions after head and neck trauma should be guided by the injury history, neurologic findings, fracture or instability risk, clinical decision-making, and the requirements of the specific chiropractic technique rather than assuming every concussion requires the same images.

Chiropractic for Concussion Treatment: The Research

When the original article was written, the concussion-chiropractic literature was mostly narrative reviews and case reports.

That is no longer the whole story.

We now have randomized research, observational work, case series, pediatric reports, upper-cervical literature, sports-chiropractic research, and interdisciplinary case models.

Importantly, not all of that literature is indexed in PubMed.

For this review, peer-reviewed chiropractic journals indexed through the Index to Chiropractic Literature are included alongside PubMed-indexed studies, with the study design clearly identified.

Randomized Trial: Chiropractic and Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms

A 2024 randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics enrolled 40 young adults with persistent post-concussion symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury.

Participants were randomized to chiropractic care or an age-matched active control.

Researchers used computerized eye-tracking assessments to measure:

• Egocentric localization
• Fixation stability
• Pursuit eye movements
• Saccades
• Stroop performance
• Vestibulo-ocular reflex performance

Compared with the active control, the chiropractic group had significantly better Stroop performance, improved gaze stability during vestibulo-ocular-reflex testing, improved fixation stability, and lower vertical error in egocentric localization.

Not every measure improved. Pursuit tracking error was worse in the chiropractic group.

That is exactly why the whole result matters.

The trial does not say chiropractic fixes every visual or cognitive concussion deficit. It provides randomized evidence that chiropractic intervention can influence specific oculomotor and attentional outcomes in people with long-term post-concussion symptoms. (10)

Six-Patient Upper-Cervical Case Series

In 2019, James Moore reported six consecutive patients with persistent post-concussion syndrome in the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic.

The patients ranged from age 39 to 82 and had symptoms for at least six weeks.

After 12 weeks of low-force NUCCA upper-cervical care, all six showed improvement in multiple measures, including combinations of:

• Post-concussion symptom burden
• Neck disability
• Headache disability
• Dizziness

The authors concluded that the relationship between craniocervical intervention and persistent concussion symptoms deserved further study. (11)

Pediatric Chiropractic Case: Headache, Concentration, and Photophobia

The Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics published a case involving a 13-year-old male with headache, poor concentration, and photophobia following concussion.

Care included upper-cervical specific, diversified, and Gonstead adjustments based on the chiropractor's examination.

At reevaluation, the report documented approximately 80% overall improvement along with improvements in headache, concentration, and photophobia. The authors appropriately noted that natural recovery could not be ruled out and called for further research. (14)

Upper-Cervical Case Series: Vertigo and Headache

A 2019 report in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research followed two females with persistent post-concussion symptoms.

One was a 16-year-old with three months of vertigo, brain fog, and headaches after a fall from a horse.

The other was a 30-year-old with migraine and vertigo after a motor-vehicle accident.

Both reported reduced frequency and intensity of headache and vertigo after beginning low-force upper-cervical chiropractic care. At one-year follow-up, the adult patient reported full resolution, while the adolescent experienced a recurrence that again improved following upper-cervical care. (15)

2025 Adolescent Interdisciplinary Chiropractic Case

A 2025 Asia-Pacific Chiropractic Journal abstract described a 15-year-old football player with six months of unresolved headaches, light sensitivity, and sound sensitivity following repeated football trauma.

His care included sacro-occipital chiropractic procedures, cervical and thoracic adjustments, cranial and TMJ care, functional optometry, vision exercises, and dental co-management.

The authors reported about 80% improvement at one month, 95% at two months, and return to football and full activity by six months. (17)

This case is especially relevant because it reflects where concussion treatment is heading:

interdisciplinary, symptom-specific care instead of one treatment for every patient.

Young Athlete: Five Visits and Return to Play

The original article featured a 2011 report of a 16-year-old athlete with persistent post-concussion headache and neck pain.

After cervical and thoracic chiropractic manipulation, the athlete reported significant relief after two treatments and symptom resolution after five visits over two weeks. He later completed a graduated return-to-play process and returned to full games symptom-free. (18)

That case remains worth citing.

It was published in Topics in Integrative Health Care, a chiropractic/integrative journal that is not dependent on PubMed indexing for its relevance to the chiropractic literature.

Post-Concussion Vertigo and Upper-Cervical Care

Another 2011 report in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research described a 23-year-old woman with five months of positional vertigo and headaches after a concussion.

The case reported resolution of the vertigo and substantial improvement in headache during upper-cervical chiropractic care. (19)

Again, that is a documented case outcome, not proof that every patient with post-concussion vertigo has an atlas subluxation.

But it supports looking carefully at the upper cervical region when vertigo and headache persist after trauma.

What About the Post-Concussion Seizure Case?

The original article also described a striking 2011 Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research case involving an older woman with a history of head trauma, seizure episodes, gait disturbance, blood-pressure instability, hearing changes, and other neurologic symptoms.

The report described improvement and eventual resolution of several reported symptoms during Atlas Orthogonal care, including the blood-pressure instability discussed in the original article. For our broader natural-health teaching, see our high blood pressure resources. (20)

That case should be preserved as chiropractic literature, but it needs to be identified for what it is:

a single case report involving a medically complex patient.

It cannot establish that Atlas Orthogonal care is a treatment for seizure disorders.

A seizure following head trauma is a medical red flag that needs appropriate neurologic evaluation.

What the Research Says as a Whole

The fairest summary is encouraging.

The evidence supports several conclusions:

• Chiropractors encounter concussion patients and can be trained to assess and co-manage them.
• The cervical spine can contribute to symptoms that overlap with persistent concussion.
• Manual therapy can be incorporated into multimodal cervicovestibular rehabilitation.
• Chiropractic case reports and case series repeatedly document improvements in headache, neck pain, dizziness, balance, concentration, visual symptoms, and function in selected patients.
• A 2024 randomized trial now provides controlled evidence for improvements in several oculomotor and attention outcomes after chiropractic intervention in persistent post-concussion symptoms.
• More large randomized trials are still needed to identify which patients respond best, which chiropractic approaches are most useful, and how care should be integrated with vestibular, visual, aerobic, cognitive, and return-to-play rehabilitation.

An older 2013 narrative review found no published adverse outcomes in the chiropractic concussion-management literature available at that time. The authors still emphasized that chiropractors must follow current concussion guidelines and use standardized assessment procedures. (8)

That remains good advice today.

The point is not to prove that chiropractic replaces the rest of concussion care.

The point is that chiropractic deserves a seat at the concussion-care table.

Concussion Danger Signs & Return to Play

Most concussions do not become medical emergencies.

But a concussion can look similar to more serious brain or neck injuries at first, so parents and athletes need to know the danger signs.

Get Emergency Help for These Symptoms

Seek urgent medical evaluation after a head injury if the person:

• Has a headache that gets worse and does not go away
• Vomits repeatedly
• Has a seizure or convulsion
• Has increasing weakness, numbness, or loss of coordination
• Has slurred speech
• Becomes increasingly confused, restless, agitated, or behaves unusually
• Has one pupil larger than the other
• Becomes very drowsy or cannot be awakened normally
• Loses consciousness or has worsening consciousness

For babies and young children, also pay close attention to inconsolable crying, refusal to nurse or eat, unusual behavior, or any dramatic change from the child's normal state. (6)

Head Trauma Plus Neck Pain Needs Careful Screening

Do not assume every symptom after a collision is “just concussion.”

The cervical spine may also be injured.

Severe midline neck pain, major restriction after trauma, new arm or leg weakness, new numbness, or concern for fracture or instability should be assessed before cervical manipulation.

This is not anti-chiropractic.

This is good chiropractic.

The chiropractic literature itself contains important case reports showing how chiropractors have identified serious spinal pathology that initially presented like a routine musculoskeletal or concussion complaint. (28)

Return to School Before Full Contact Sports

Current concussion care encourages an early, supported return to normal life.

Most children can return to school within one to two days, with symptom-based accommodations when needed. (22)

That may include:

• Shortened school days
• Extra breaks
• Reduced screen exposure
• Extra time for assignments or tests
• Temporary reduction in bright or noisy environments

School and sport recovery can progress at the same time, but full return to learning should generally be established before unrestricted return to contact sport.

Follow a Graduated Return-to-Sport Plan

CDC's current return-to-sport progression has six steps, and each step typically takes at least 24 hours.

Athletes advance only when symptoms remain appropriately controlled and the healthcare professional supervising recovery agrees they are ready.

The later stages involving risk of head impact should not begin until concussion symptoms and relevant clinical findings have resolved and clearance has been given. (24)

No championship, tournament, scholarship, or starting position is worth a second head injury before the brain and the rest of the system are ready.

Chiropractic Concussion Treatment FAQs

Can a chiropractor help with a concussion?

Yes, a chiropractor with appropriate concussion training can be part of the assessment and recovery team, especially when neck pain, cervicogenic headache, dizziness, balance problems, visual symptoms, or persistent post-concussion symptoms are present. The Amsterdam concussion consensus specifically includes sports chiropractors among the professionals who may participate in multidisciplinary concussion care. (5)

Can a chiropractor diagnose a concussion?

Doctors of Chiropractic may evaluate and diagnose concussion within their professional training, scope, and local laws. Sports-certified chiropractors have documented substantial concussion assessment and management activity in clinical practice. Any clinician managing concussion should use current assessment standards and know when urgent referral is required. (9)

Should you get adjusted immediately after a concussion?

Not automatically. The first priority is recognizing the concussion, removing the athlete from risk, screening for danger signs, and ruling out serious head or cervical injury. Manipulation or mobilization should be based on the examination and should only be used when it is appropriate for that patient.

Can neck problems mimic post-concussion symptoms?

Yes. Cervical dysfunction can contribute to headache, dizziness, balance disturbance, visual symptoms, nausea, and neck pain that overlap with post-concussion complaints. That is one reason modern concussion assessment looks beyond the brain alone. (5, 11)

What does the latest chiropractic concussion research show?

A 2024 randomized controlled trial of 40 young adults with persistent post-concussion symptoms found improvements in several gaze-stability and attention outcomes after chiropractic care compared with an active control, although not every eye-movement measure improved. Chiropractic case series and case reports also document improvements in headache, dizziness, neck disability, visual symptoms, and function in selected patients. (10, 11)

Is upper-cervical chiropractic used for post-concussion symptoms?

Yes. Upper-cervical approaches such as NUCCA and Atlas Orthogonal appear repeatedly in the chiropractic concussion literature. Case reports and case series have described improvements in vertigo, headache, dizziness, neck disability, balance, and other persistent symptoms. These reports support further research and careful patient selection rather than a claim that every concussion is caused by an atlas problem. (11, 15, 19)

What is cervicovestibular rehabilitation?

Cervicovestibular rehabilitation combines treatment of the neck with rehabilitation of balance and vestibular function. It may include cervical manual therapy, exercises, gaze-stability work, balance training, and other individualized rehabilitation. The Amsterdam consensus recommends it when dizziness, neck pain, or headache persist beyond about 10 days. (5)

How long does a concussion take to heal?

Recovery varies. Many people improve within days or weeks, but some symptoms last longer. The Amsterdam consensus uses more than four weeks as the threshold for “persisting symptoms” and recommends multimodal assessment when recovery is not progressing normally. (5)

Should a child with a concussion stay in a dark room?

Not for days on end. Current guidance favors relative rest for the first 24 to 48 hours followed by gradual return to light physical and cognitive activity as tolerated. Most children can return to school within one to two days with appropriate support. (5, 22)

Can a child return to sports when the headache is gone?

Not automatically. A child should complete a graduated return-to-sport progression under healthcare supervision. Later stages involving contact or risk of another head impact require appropriate clearance. (24)

Did chiropractic care help Sidney Crosby recover from his concussions?

Chiropractic neurological care was one part of Crosby's multidisciplinary recovery. ESPN documented his treatment with chiropractor Ted Carrick, and Crosby publicly praised Carrick's contribution. It would be inaccurate to say one clinician or therapy alone caused his recovery, but chiropractic neurological care clearly played a meaningful role in the recovery process he pursued. (1, 4)

What type of chiropractor should I look for after a concussion?

Look for a chiropractor with specific training and experience in concussion, sports injuries, neurological assessment, cervical rehabilitation, vestibular care, or post-concussion rehabilitation. Credentials such as sports chiropractic certification or advanced postgraduate neurological training can be helpful, but practical concussion competency and willingness to co-manage with other clinicians matter most.

When should a chiropractor refer a concussion patient?

Immediately when there are emergency danger signs, suspected cervical fracture or instability, worsening neurologic deficits, seizures, significant deterioration, or findings outside the chiropractor's scope and expertise. Referral and co-management are signs of good clinical judgment, not failure.

Final Thoughts on Chiropractic and Concussion Recovery

Concussion care has come a long way since Sidney Crosby's 2011 injury put chiropractic neurology into the national spotlight.

We now know that prolonged dark-room rest is often counterproductive.

We know the cervical spine, vestibular system, vision, balance, exercise tolerance, sleep, cognition, and emotional health can all influence recovery.

And we have a growing chiropractic literature documenting how chiropractors can contribute to that bigger picture.

The research is not limited to PubMed.

Peer-reviewed chiropractic journals have documented upper-cervical case series, pediatric cases, sports cases, interdisciplinary models, craniocervical rehabilitation, chiropractic assessment of missed concussions, and persistent post-concussion recovery. More recently, randomized research has begun testing specific neurological outcomes as well.

That is encouraging.

The goal is not to make chiropractic compete with every other profession.

The goal is to give the patient the best chance to recover.

If you or someone you love has suffered a concussion, look for a healthcare team that understands both the brain and the cervical spine. A chiropractor with concussion-specific training can be an important part of that team.

And if you think you may have a concussion after a recent hit, fall, or collision, get evaluated before returning to play.

See more research about chiropractic care.

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