Concussion-Related Cervical Assessment in Jacksonville

A comprehensive concussion evaluation includes the neck and craniocervical junction—not just an assessment of brain-related symptoms.

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Why the neck belongs in a concussion evaluation

A concussion is a brain injury, and the same traumatic event can also load the neck’s joints, muscles, and ligaments. The head and neck are mechanically connected: a blow, jolt, or rapid acceleration and deceleration can affect both. Cervical assessment should therefore be part of a comprehensive concussion evaluation, even when neck pain is not the main complaint.

At Apex Chiropractic, we evaluate cervical function with particular attention to the craniocervical junction (CCJ), where the skull meets the atlas (C1) and axis (C2). Our findings help identify cervical problems that may contribute to symptoms and guide care alongside your concussion clinician. Medical monitoring and guidance on returning to school, work, driving, and sport remain essential.

Why the upper neck and its sensory connections matter

Upper cervical muscles and joints provide sensory information about head position and movement. The nervous system combines this information with visual and inner-ear signals to support balance and coordinated eye and head movement. Cervical dysfunction can contribute to headaches, dizziness, and movement intolerance that overlap with concussion symptoms. Assessment helps determine whether cervical, vestibular, or other problems need attention together.

Mechanical involvement in an injury is a reason to examine the CCJ; it does not by itself establish ligament damage, instability, or a specific cause of symptoms. Those conclusions require appropriate clinical findings. Read more about cervical assessment after concussion.

Watch: Why symptoms can linger after a concussion

In this short video, Dr. William Soriano explains why headaches, dizziness, brain fog, fatigue, and exercise intolerance can continue after a concussion, and why examination of the neck and CCJ belongs in a comprehensive recovery plan.

Watch Dr. Soriano’s concussion video on YouTube.

Points to discuss with your care team

  • A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that can follow a blow or jolt to the head or a force to the body. Headache, dizziness, thinking difficulty, fatigue, and other symptoms can persist even when a routine CT or MRI shows no structural injury. Symptoms or a normal scan alone cannot establish diffuse axonal injury.
  • The forces involved in a concussion can also affect cervical tissues. Neck pain does not need to be the leading symptom for cervical assessment to be relevant. Examination can assess movement, upper cervical function, and head-position control to identify potential contributors to symptoms.
  • After an initial day or two of relative rest, a clinician can guide a gradual return to light activity within symptom limits. Prolonged complete rest in a dark room is generally not recommended. Avoid another head injury and follow medical guidance for driving, work, school, and sport.
  • If symptoms linger, your care team can use cervical, vestibular, vision, headache, and exercise findings to guide rehabilitation. The Amsterdam sport-concussion consensus recommends cervicovestibular rehabilitation when dizziness, neck pain, or headaches persist for more than 10 days. This combines care for the neck and balance system; it is not evidence that upper cervical adjustments alone treat brain injury.

Read the CDC’s recovery guidance and the Amsterdam concussion consensus statement.

What to bring to your appointment

Tell us how the injury happened, when it occurred, which symptoms have changed, and what medical evaluation you have already received. Bring relevant reports, imaging, medication information, and instructions from your treating clinician. Ongoing or worsening symptoms should also be reported to that clinician.

Questions a cervical assessment can explore

  • Are there cervical movement, upper cervical, or sensorimotor findings that could contribute to symptoms, even if neck pain is not the main complaint?
  • Do the history or findings call for additional medical investigation or referral?
  • What goals and reassessment measures would be appropriate if conservative neck care is considered?

We do not assume an adjustment treats the brain injury or repairs injured ligaments. CBCT or MRI referral is considered for a specific clinical indication; these tests are not automatic requirements, and a cervical scan does not establish concussion recovery.

For adults and older children, NeckCare is part of our initial examination. It measures neck range of motion, joint position error (how accurately the head returns to a target position), and sensorimotor control (how accurately head movement is guided). These results provide a baseline for assessing neck function and tracking change over time; they do not by themselves diagnose the cause of symptoms. We interpret NeckCare results alongside your injury history and cervical, neurological, and vestibular findings to guide an individualized plan.

When to seek urgent medical care

After a head injury, a worsening persistent headache, repeated vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures, or difficulty waking requires emergency assessment. Call 911 for an emergency. See the CDC’s concussion danger signs.

Discuss the next step

Our Neptune Beach office serves Jacksonville and the Beaches. Contact us to explain your concerns and ask whether a cervical consultation is appropriate alongside your existing care. Any manual treatment requires assessment of suitability and a discussion of risks and alternatives.

Related information: Upper Cervical Chiropractic, Dizziness and Vertigo, and Headache and Migraine. Read the CDC’s guidance on what to do after a concussion and Dr. Soriano’s biography.

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808 3rd St C, Neptune Beach, FL 32266
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