Neck Injuries and Concussions: Understanding the Overlap After a Car Accident or Head Trauma

Neck Injuries and Concussions: Understanding the Overlap After a Car Accident or Head Trauma

After a concussion, many people are told to “rest and wait it out.” But what if your symptoms aren’t just from a brain injury? If your concussion recovery has stalled, a hidden neck injury may be contributing to your symptoms.

At our Kansas City whiplash clinic, Dr. Lance Stevenson, DC specializes in identifying and treating the overlap between concussion and cervical spine injuries, especially in patients hurt in car accidents, sports, or falls.

Why Neck Injuries Often Occur With Concussions

Concussions and neck injuries frequently happen at the same time — especially when the head is whipped, jarred, or forcefully rotated. In fact, you can suffer a concussion without hitting your head at all, just from the rapid acceleration and deceleration of the brain inside the skull.

These same forces also affect the cervical spine, leading to:

• Whiplash

• Joint inflammation

• Muscle tension

• Nerve irritation

• Reduced blood flow to the brain

The result? A combination of symptoms that may look like a concussion but won’t fully resolve until the neck is treated too.

Why Standard Imaging Often Misses the Problem

CT and MRI scans usually check for serious issues like bleeding or fractures — not soft tissue dysfunction or joint irritation. That means your ER visit may come back “normal,” even if your neck is a major contributor to your symptoms.

You need a provider trained to evaluate:

• Cervical joint mobility (especially C1-C3)

• Cervicogenic dizziness

• Visual-vestibular-cervical integration

• Posture, muscle tone, and proprioception

That’s exactly what we do at our Kansas City clinic.

How We Treat the Neck-Brain Connection After Concussion

At our office, Dr. Lance Stevenson, DC takes a full-body approach to concussion recovery, integrating care for the cervical spine, visual system, and vestibular system.

Our treatments may include:

✅ Gentle manual therapy to restore joint mobility
✅ Targeted chiropractic adjustments (when safe and appropriate)
✅ Trigger point and myofascial release for muscle tension
✅ Vestibular and oculomotor rehabilitation
✅ Gaze stabilization and neck-eye coordination drills
✅ Cervical proprioception retraining
✅ Ergonomic and postural correction strategies

By treating both the neck and the nervous system, we help Kansas City patients finally get lasting relief.

Get the Right Diagnosis — and the Right Treatment

If you've been dealing with persistent concussion symptoms like headaches, dizziness, or fogginess — and no one has checked your neck — you're not getting the full picture.

At our Kansas City clinic, Dr. Lance Stevenson, DC helps patients from Independence, Blue Springs, North KC, Parkville, and beyond recover fully by treating the overlap between concussion and cervical spine dysfunction.

Call 816-226-7476 today to schedule your post-concussion evaluation and take the next step toward complete recovery.

Special thanks to Complete Concussions for their training and educational resources. To learn more about comprehensive concussion treatment options, visit completeconcussions.com.

Disclaimer:

This blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace medical advice. If you have experienced a concussion or other injury, please consult a qualified healthcare provider. Always follow the advice and treatment plan given by your medical professional.

Been in an Accident? Start Here.

Call us today for a free consultation or with any questions.

Expert Personal Injury Care