Concussion Recovery in Fredericton: Evidence-Based Care at Fredericton Family Chiropractic
A concussion is more than just a bump on the head. It’s a mild traumatic brain injury that changes how your brain works, sometimes for days, sometimes for months. If you’ve been dealing with lingering symptoms after a concussion, you’re not alone, and there are effective treatments that can help.
Dr. Scott Brayall has advanced training in concussion assessment and functional neurology. At Fredericton Family Chiropractic, we combine targeted chiropractic care with structured rehab exercises to help you recover fully and get back to your life.
What Happens During a Concussion
When your head is struck or your body absorbs a sudden force, the brain shifts inside the skull. This stretches and disrupts nerve cells, triggers an inflammatory response, and temporarily impairs how your brain processes information.
But here’s something most people don’t realize: the same force that injures the brain almost always injures the neck. Research shows that up to 90% of people with persistent post-concussion symptoms also have cervical spine dysfunction. That means many of the symptoms you’re experiencing may not be coming from your brain alone. They may be driven by your neck.
This is why a proper concussion recovery plan needs to address both the brain and the cervical spine.
Common Concussion Symptoms
Concussion symptoms vary from person to person. Some show up right away, while others develop over days or weeks. A lot of people describe feeling “off” without being able to pinpoint exactly why.
Common symptoms include:
- Headaches that won’t go away
- Dizziness or a sense that the room is moving
- Brain fog, difficulty thinking clearly, remembering things, or staying focused
- Eye strain, blurred vision, or difficulty reading
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Sensitivity to light and noise
- Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
- Irritability or mood changes
- Nausea
If you recognize yourself in several of these symptoms, it doesn’t mean something is permanently wrong. It means your brain and body are still recovering, and the right treatment can make a real difference.
The Overlooked Connection Between Your Neck and Your Concussion
Most concussion protocols focus entirely on the brain. But the forces involved in a concussion, whether from a car accident, a fall, or a sports collision, also affect the cervical spine.
Your neck is densely packed with sensory receptors that communicate with your brain about balance, eye movement, and spatial orientation. When the joints and muscles of the neck are disrupted, these signals become unreliable. The result can look and feel exactly like a brain injury: dizziness, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and visual disturbances.
A 2021 systematic review in Sports Medicine found that cervicogenic symptoms are present in 7 to 69% of acute concussion cases, and that number rises to roughly 90% in patients with persistent symptoms. The same review showed that neck pain at initial evaluation increases the risk of developing persistent post-concussion symptoms by 2.5 to 6.4 times.
This is why addressing the cervical spine isn’t optional in concussion recovery. It’s essential.
Our Treatment Approach
At Fredericton Family Chiropractic, we take a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to concussion recovery built on two pillars:
Chiropractic Care: Restoring Cervical Spine Function
Concussion recovery often stalls because the cervical spine isn’t being treated. Gentle spinal mobilization and adjustments can help restore normal joint movement, reduce irritation, and improve the proprioceptive signals your brain depends on for balance and coordination.
A 2024 randomized controlled trial found that chiropractic intervention improved gaze stability and cognitive performance in patients with persistent post-concussion symptoms. Research also shows that upper cervical mobilization increases parasympathetic nervous system activity, while lower cervical mobilization reduces cortisol levels, both of which support the healing process.
Functional Rehabilitation Exercise: Retraining Your Systems
Your brain, eyes, and vestibular system need to be gradually challenged and retrained after a concussion. Structured rehab exercises are the most effective way to do this.
Our rehabilitation programs may include:
- Vestibular rehabilitation to reduce dizziness and improve balance
- Gaze stabilization exercises to address visual symptoms
- Graded aerobic exercise to improve blood flow and reduce brain fog
- Cervical strengthening and proprioceptive exercises to restore neck function
- Balance and coordination training
A randomized controlled trial by Schneider et al. found that patients who undergo combined vestibular and cervical spine rehabilitation are nearly four times more likely to return to full activity within eight weeks compared to those who don’t receive this type of care.
We also know that prolonged rest is no longer considered best practice. A systematic review found that complete rest beyond the first few days doesn’t improve outcomes and may actually slow recovery. Active, guided rehabilitation is now the standard of care.
Symptom-Specific Guides
Every concussion is different. The symptoms you experience depend on which systems were most affected. We’ve created detailed guides for the most common symptom categories so you can better understand what you’re going through and how treatment can help:
Eye Strain and Visual Symptoms After Concussion
Blurred vision, difficulty reading, light sensitivity, and eye fatigue are among the most common and disruptive concussion symptoms. Learn how your cervical spine and visual system are connected, and what targeted treatment looks like.
Read the full article: Eye Strain and Visual Symptoms After Concussion →
Brain Fog and Cognitive Symptoms After Concussion
Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, feeling mentally slow, and trouble finding words can stick around long after the initial injury. Learn what causes post-concussion brain fog and how rehabilitation can clear it.
Read the full article: Brain Fog and Cognitive Symptoms After Concussion →
Dizziness and Vestibular Symptoms After Concussion
Feeling unsteady, room spinning, motion sensitivity, and nausea are signs that your vestibular system needs attention. Learn how to tell the difference between vestibular and cervicogenic dizziness, and why it matters for treatment.
Read the full article: Post-Concussion Dizziness & Vestibular Rehab in Fredericton →
Neck Pain and Cervical Dysfunction After Concussion
Neck pain, stiffness, and headaches that start at the base of the skull are among the most undertreated concussion symptoms. Learn why your neck is so important to your recovery and what evidence-based treatment can do.
Read the full article: Neck Pain After Concussion in Fredericton →
When to Seek Care
You should seek professional assessment if you experience any of the following after a head injury or whiplash event:
- Symptoms that haven’t improved after two weeks
- Symptoms that are getting worse
- Headaches that are increasing in frequency or intensity
- Dizziness that affects your daily activities
- Difficulty concentrating at work or school
- Neck pain that started after the injury
- Visual disturbances that weren’t present before
Early intervention leads to better outcomes. Research consistently shows that active rehabilitation started within the first few weeks produces faster and more complete recovery than waiting for symptoms to resolve on their own.
If you’re unsure whether your symptoms are concussion-related, we’re happy to assess you and help you understand what’s going on.
Evidence and Sources
Cade A, Turnbull D. Effect of chiropractic intervention on oculomotor and attentional visual outcomes in young adults with long-term mild traumatic brain injury: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2024.
Cheever K et al. The role of cervical symptoms in post-concussion management: a systematic review. Sports Medicine. 2021.
Reneker JC et al. Sequencing and integration of cervical manual therapy and vestibulo-oculomotor therapy for concussion symptoms: retrospective analysis. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. 2021.
Langevin P et al. Cervical spine sensorimotor deficits persist in people post-concussion despite minimal symptoms. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice. 2024.
Schneider KJ et al. Physical therapy evaluation and treatment after concussion/mild traumatic brain injury: clinical practice guidelines. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2020.
Murray DA et al. Effectiveness of vestibular rehabilitation after concussion: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2022.
Hides L et al. Autonomic nervous system and endocrine system response to upper or lower cervical spine mobilization in males with persistent post-concussion symptoms: a proof-of-concept trial. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. 2024.
Marshall CM et al. Multi-modal management of sport and non-sport related concussion by chiropractic sports specialists: a case series. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2021.
Schneider KJ et al. Cervicovestibular rehabilitation in sport-related concussion: a randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2014.