Repetitive Brain Injuries

By Robert M. Cohl, DC

Every athlete should see the movie Concussion.

Dr. Bennet Omalu, a neuropathologist, was presented with the brain of former Pittsburgh Steeler, Mike Webster. He died at the age of 50 years old after a long bout of intense chronic pain, becoming violently ill with severe symptoms of depression and forgetfulness.

Dr. Omalu did an autopsy and discovered structural changes in this brain. He identified the damaged brain cells as Tau. These brain cells are proteins, and the nerve cells become entangled with these proteins and self-destruct.

Short-term memory goes first, and progressive brain inflammation leads to memory problems, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorders, sleeplessness, and recurrent pain. End of the road diagnoses may be Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other named and unnamed diseases.

For practical matters we call this “Brain on Fire”. Therefore, as medical specialists we must address the factors involved with this process. The nerves in the brain that are involved with proper communication are kept healthy by microglial cells. They make up 85% of the brain.

Repetitive injuries result in inflammation in the brain regardless of the severity of the symptoms. These inflammatory compounds are called cytokines. They cross the blood brain barrier and turn up activity in the microglial cells. This causes excessive excitation to the central nervous system.

How do we turn down the excess neurological stimulation (pain), inflammation and dysfunctional firing patterns of the brain neuronal pathways? We look at and evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that integrate and balance the structural spinal and cranial faults, biochemical/nutritional imbalances, and mental/emotional stresses.

Applied Kinesiology (AK) is a post graduate program that addresses all of these components by looking at the Health Triad of structural, chemical and mental issues through manual muscle testing. Types of treatment involve cold laser therapy, specific joint manipulation, cranial-sacral techniques, acupuncture meridian therapy, muscle balancing, dietary and nutritional testing, and emotional testing.

Putting out the “Brain on Fire” issue is performed through a very comprehensive functional neurological and biochemical assessment and treatment of the inflammation and over-excitation of the brain. Addressing post-concussion signs and symptoms immediately after a sports-related injury allows the body to go through the proper stages of soft tissue healing. Chronic and reoccurring injuries require more work.

Either way chiropractors that incorporate AK procedures in clinical practice have the right therapeutic tools to determine optimum successful outcomes.