Neck Pain Following Concussion
Neck pain and cervicalgia are common following concussion. The cervical spine should be carefully examined in any individual who has sustained a concussion, because neck pain may be a sign of more serious underlying cervical spine injury. Even when a more serious injury has been ruled out, it is noteworthy that the cervical structures are vulnerable to stress and injury at their end range of motion, and such motion occurs commonly in an accelerated fashion with concussion. Further, cervical spine injury may cause faulty proprioceptive input from the upper cervical spine, resulting in vestibular symptoms. Cervicalgia is a source of persistent symptoms following concussion and frequently manifests with dizziness and cervicogenic headache. Individuals with persistent symptoms of cervicalgia or cervicogenic headache may benefit from a combination of physical therapy and vestibular therapy.