What happens during a concussion?
In the first 30 minutes the demand of blood sugar gets out of control – the brain craves incredibly high amounts. As a consequence of the sugar rush it functions less ideal. It’s similar to as if you had a big meal and tons of chocolate – you just want to sleep after that feast.
The body reacts to that enormous demand – and slows down the blood supply to the brain, even though the brain would need the supply in order to heal itself faster. Keep in mind: the brain controls the heart beat the digestion, the production of the hormones, and the respiratory system. If these functions wouldn’t be executed, the brain wouldn’t work.
It is a form of dependence or symbiosis.
Out of that dilemma, the body has to decide between a less ideal blood supply to the brain and keeping the vital organs at work.
However, if a blow to the head is really, really bad, the concussed person falls into coma. It is a form of live saving mechanism. The body cannot use its energy for secondary tasks like speaking and moving around; it really has to put all the effort into repairing a severely damaged site.
If the blow is less severe, the body craves rest; it needs to put a lot of work into restoring the brain functions and keeping the bodily functions working at the same time.
This is why people usually feel tired after a blow on the head and want to sleep a lot. Furthermore, they have a really low threshold to stress and might be prone to moodiness. The vomiting and dizziness, the light sensitivity are due to neuronal dysfunctions, that need to be healed as well.
How can osteopathy help? The manual technique gently stimulates the blood flow to the brain, the venous drainage and the flow of the cerebro-spinal liquid, the liquid in which the brain resides.
Even weeks and years after a concussion, osteopathy can be effective to eliminate minor, remaining secondary effects of the blow. These could be difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to light and noise, headaches etc., symptoms that even might become worse when the person is under stress.
If you want to know more, feel free to ask and share your opinion.
For more reads:
A very good article about concussion:
https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/football/article_92a262bf-6b4d-5d29-9e59-615af03e1c48.html
Clinical study on concussion:
https://www.osteopathie-canada.ca/en/reports/matthew-lombardi-returns-game-thanks-osteopathy-after-one-year-absence
a German article critiquing the handling of concussion in European football:
https://www.faz.net/aktuell/sport/fussball/gehirnerschuetterung-im-fussball-das-kann-toedlich-sein-13084915.html