"Cervicogenic Concussion, Vertigo, and Dizziness for the Athletic Trainer".
Presentation
Overview
Overview
Description
Many healthcare providers are unaware that the cervical spine (CS) can contribute to symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, and concussion-like presentations. As a result, the cervical spine is often overlooked during assessment. Evidence of this lack of evidenced based assessment was presented at a national meeting and the NE ACSM annual meeting by the author. Research has shown that abnormal afferent signaling from the cervical spine proprioceptive organs can lead to these symptoms. When this input is modified whether through direct injection, ablation, or conservative interventions like manual therapy—symptoms have been shown to resolve. Published data from the author indicates that: 90% of individuals with concussion symptoms exhibit impaired cervical mobility. 70% of those diagnosed with dizziness or vertigo also show cervical mobility deficits. Unpublished findings suggest that over 45% of Athletic Trainers do not assess cervical spine function in athletes suspected of having a concussion. This oversight may hinder recovery. Furthermore, many providers, including Athletic Trainers and physicians, rely solely on pain as an indicator of cervical involvement. This is problematic, as literature clearly shows that pain is not a reliable marker of cervical mobility deficits, which can contribute to concussion-like symptoms including dizziness and vertigo.
