Where Can I Get Post-Concussion Neck Rehabilitation Near Lake Anne in Reston?

A woman at a laptop presses her fingertips to her temples, a lingering headache that may point toward neck rehabilitation.

 

A week after a knock to the head, your thinking feels sharper, but your neck still aches every afternoon. If you live near Lake Anne, post-concussion neck rehabilitation can help, and concussion neck rehab in Reston is close by at our Herndon clinic. Our team works on the neck side of concussion recovery, while your physician manages the head injury itself.

Why Does Neck Pain Linger After a Concussion?

The same jolt that causes a concussion can strain the joints, muscles and nerves of your neck. Neck pain and stiffness can hang on, and in one clinic study, more severe neck symptoms went with a longer concussion recovery. That’s why concussion neck rehab in Reston starts with its own neck exam.

  • In a concussion clinic study of 306 mostly young patients, 145 patients, or 47%, reported neck pain.
  • In that same study, 68 patients, or 22.2%, reported difficulty moving their neck.
  • Patients with more severe neck symptoms averaged 40 days to recover.
  • Patients with mild or no neck symptoms averaged 30 days to recover.
  • Motor vehicle collisions went with over 4 times greater risk of more severe neck symptoms.
  • Among emergency department patients with a mild brain injury, 68.4% reported neck pain within 72 hours.
  • At 45 days, 41.9% of those emergency department patients reported neck pain.

Common ways a concussion and a neck strain happen together

  • A rear-end crash whips the head forward and back.
  • A fall on ice, stairs or a trail jolts the head and neck.
  • A collision happens in soccer, football or lacrosse.
  • A bike or scooter spill throws the rider forward.
  • A slip or fall happens at work.
  • A falling object strikes the head.

In a Johns Hopkins Medicine article, a brain rehabilitation director explains that the same incident can injure neck muscles and nerves. When that happens, patients may have lasting headaches.

Related: How To Treat Whiplash Symptoms in Reston, VA

New to RxWellness? Your first visit — including consultation, examination, and treatment — is just $19. Book your new patient appointment today!

Which Post-Concussion Symptoms Can Come From the Neck?

Several post-concussion symptoms can come partly from the neck, not from the brain alone. A cervicogenic headache, neck pain and some dizziness are the main ones. During a careful exam, our team sorts out which post-concussion symptoms may respond to neck rehabilitation.

Neck-related post-concussion symptoms to mention at your exam

  • A cervicogenic headache starts at the base of the skull.
  • Neck pain or stiffness shows up when you turn your head.
  • Dizziness or unsteadiness comes on with neck movement.
  • Upper back and shoulder muscles feel tight and tender.
  • Your neck tires after reading or long screen sessions.
  • Pain spreads from the neck toward one shoulder.

How a cervicogenic headache after a concussion often feels

  • The pain starts in the neck and spreads toward the head.
  • It’s often worse on one side.
  • It changes with certain neck positions.
  • Your neck moves less while the headache is active.
  • The base of the skull feels tender.
  • The pain can reach the forehead or the area behind one eye.

What a 2024 neck position study found after a concussion

  • Researchers compared 25 people within a year of a concussion with 26 peers.
  • The post-concussion group had minimal symptoms on a standard symptom scale.
  • That group still showed substantial differences in joint position error tests.
  • In a joint position error test, an examiner measures how closely you return your head to a starting point.
  • Post-concussion participants with pain during joint testing had worse joint position error and less lower neck mobility.
  • The authors called neck screening after a concussion a reasonable recommendation.

Related: Where Can I Get Help for Migraines Near Me in Herndon?

When Is Neck Pain After a Concussion an Emergency?

A practitioner rests both hands on the shoulder of a clothed patient on a treatment table during neck and upper back care.

 

Some signs after a head injury need emergency care before concussion neck rehab in Reston begins. If someone can’t stay awake, has a seizure or has new weakness, call 911 or go to the emergency room. Someone else should make the call or drive.

Call 911 or go to the emergency room for these head injury signs

  • Being knocked out and not waking up
  • Not being able to stay awake or keep the eyes open
  • A seizure
  • New numbness or weakness in any part of the body
  • Problems with vision or hearing
  • Trouble walking, balancing, understanding, speaking or writing
  • Watery fluid coming from the ears or nose

These are 7 of the signs on the NHS list of emergency head injury signs. The NHS also includes a high-speed hit to the head, such as in a road crash, a fall from more than 5 stairs, bleeding from the ears and a change in behavior. Severe neck pain or arm weakness after a crash or fall also needs 911 or the emergency room. A fracture has to be ruled out first.

See a physician promptly for these post-concussion signs

  • Vomiting after a recent head injury
  • Feeling dizzy soon after a head injury
  • Having a blood-thinning condition or taking a blood thinner
  • Drinking alcohol or taking drugs when the injury happened
  • Any other symptom that worries you after a head injury

Under the same NHS guidance, you should see a doctor if head injury symptoms last more than 2 weeks. Post-concussion neck rehabilitation starts only after your physician has assessed the head injury.

Questions to ask your physician before neck rehabilitation starts

  • Has a neck fracture been ruled out?
  • Is it safe to start gentle neck exercises now?
  • Which activities should I limit for the next few weeks?
  • Is it safe for me to drive yet?
  • When should I come back for a recheck?
  • Which symptoms mean I should return right away?

Your physician, not our team, decides when you’re ready to return to sport, school or work.

Related: Do I Need an Accident Injury Doctor in Herndon?

If you’re ready to address post-concussion neck pain in Herndon, our team at RxWellness is here to help. Call (703) 686-5663 to schedule your consultation today.

What Does Research Show About Neck Rehabilitation After a Concussion?

Experts recommend adding neck and balance rehabilitation when symptoms linger after a sport-related concussion. An international expert panel recommends it when dizziness, neck pain or headaches last past 10 days. Researchers in a small randomized trial also found faster medical clearance with combined neck and balance therapy.

  • The 2022 Amsterdam consensus panel recommends cervicovestibular rehabilitation when symptoms persist past 10 days, for dizziness, neck pain and/or headaches.
  • The panel calls post-concussion symptoms that last more than 4 weeks persisting symptoms.
  • The panel names sports chiropractors, physiotherapists and sports medicine physicians among clinicians who may be part of a sport-related concussion care network.
  • In a 2014 randomized trial of 31 patients, everyone was 12 to 30 years old and had lingering dizziness, neck pain or headaches after a sport-related concussion.
  • Of the group that added physiotherapist-led neck and vestibular (inner ear balance) rehabilitation, 73% got medical clearance to return to sport within 8 weeks of starting treatment.
  • Only 7% of the comparison group got medical clearance in that time.
  • A sports medicine physician who didn’t know each patient’s group made the clearance decisions.

What concussion neck rehab in Reston covers at our clinic

  • We test neck range of motion and joint position sense.
  • We use gentle chiropractic care for stiff neck joints once a fracture is ruled out.
  • We ease tight neck and shoulder muscles with soft tissue work.
  • We build deep neck muscle endurance and posture.
  • You get a home routine to repeat between visits.
  • We retest regularly so you can see your progress in numbers.
  • We coordinate with the physician managing your concussion.

Getting out of pain is the first goal of post-concussion neck rehabilitation, but it isn’t the last one. Once neck rehabilitation restores comfortable motion, strength and posture work can help you return to the walks and workouts you enjoy. It can also help you keep a capable neck for years to come.

Related: Is Sports Injury Rehab in Herndon Right for My Injury?

Why Choose RxWellness Herndon for Post-Concussion Neck Care?

RxWellness Spine & Health Herndon chiropractors focus on the neck side of a concussion. That means the joints, muscles and position sense behind a lingering cervicogenic headache. We confirm a physician has assessed your head injury first, then compare neck tests across several visits.

A strong record still has to become a neck rehabilitation plan that fits you after a head injury.

The RxWellness Three-Phase Care Model

We use each phase to answer a different question about your neck, and we shift phases when your retests improve.

  • Early Relief Care visits come close together while we calm a stiff, sore neck and its headaches with gentle care.
  • Through Corrective Care, we retrain neck position sense, deep neck muscle endurance and posture so reading, turning and driving feel steadier.
  • Wellness Care is the stage where you fold a short neck strength routine into your week, and we reassess if symptoms return.

Our Herndon team matches each phase to the neck services we use for concussion neck rehab in Reston.

Related: Best Chiropractor Near Me in Herndon, VA: Expert Spine Care & Pain Relief

Which Concussion Neck Rehab Services Are Available Near Lake Anne?

Concussion neck rehab in Reston is available at RxWellness Spine & Health Herndon, where we combine chiropractic care, rehabilitation therapy and massage therapy. Your neck rehabilitation plan depends on your exam, your physician’s guidance and the activities you want back.

Related conditions our Herndon team treats alongside post-concussion neck pain

Questions to expect at your first post-concussion neck visit

  • When and how did the head injury happen?
  • Has a physician assessed your concussion, and what did they advise?
  • Where does your neck hurt, and does the pain spread anywhere?
  • Do your headaches start at the base of your skull?
  • Does turning your head bring on dizziness?
  • Which tasks at work, school or home feel harder now?
  • What activities do you most want to get back to?

Symptoms worth logging between neck rehabilitation visits

  • Note how far you can turn your head each morning.
  • Count the days you get a cervicogenic headache.
  • Write down when dizziness shows up.
  • Track which tasks bring your neck pain back.
  • Record how well you slept the night before.
  • Mark how often you finish your home exercises.
  • Flag any new or worsening symptom for your physician.

Related: Where Can Tech Workers Find Neck Pain Treatment Near Me in Reston?

Ready to take the next step toward recovery? Schedule your consultation online to visit RxWellness Herndon today and begin your path to relief.

FAQs

Can a chiropractor treat a concussion?

A chiropractor doesn’t treat the brain injury itself, and a physician should assess any concussion first. Concussion neck rehab in Reston covers the neck side of concussion recovery, such as stiffness, muscle tension and headaches that start in the neck. If new symptoms appear during care, we stop and refer you back to your physician, and any danger sign means calling 911 or going to the emergency room.

Is it safe to get a neck adjustment after a concussion?

It can be, once your physician has assessed the head injury and a neck fracture has been ruled out. Our board-certified chiropractors examine your neck first and choose gentle techniques based on what they find. Some patients start neck rehabilitation with soft tissue work and exercise instead of adjustments. If anything in your exam raises a concern, we pause and coordinate with your physician.

Do I need imaging before concussion neck rehab in Reston?

Not always, because your physician decides whether a head or neck scan is needed after the injury. If you’ve already had imaging, bring the report to your first visit. If our exam suggests imaging would help, we’ll explain why and coordinate the next step with your physician.

How long does post-concussion neck rehabilitation take?

It varies with how long your symptoms have lasted and how you respond to care. A Johns Hopkins rehabilitation specialist has said most patients with a mild brain injury recover within two to four weeks. Neck symptoms can outlast the rest of concussion recovery, so we retest at follow-up visits and adjust your neck rehabilitation plan with you.

What should I bring to my first post-concussion neck visit?

Bring any notes from the physician, emergency room or urgent care clinic that assessed your concussion. A list of your medicines and any imaging reports help too. A short diary of when your headaches, dizziness or neck pain show up gives our team a useful starting point for concussion neck rehab in Reston.

What can I do at home before my first neck visit?

Follow your physician’s instructions until neck rehabilitation begins. NHS guidance for a minor head injury includes resting and avoiding alcohol until you feel better. You should also skip contact sports for at least 3 weeks, per the same guidance. Keep track of any symptom that gets worse, and seek emergency care if a danger sign appears.

Do I have to live in Herndon to get care at your Herndon clinic?

No, and many of our patients come from nearby communities. Our Herndon clinic serves Reston, Floris, Franklin Farm, Sugarland Run and nearby communities. You can book online or call the clinic to schedule your first visit.

Key Takeaways

  • Neck pain is common after a concussion, and 47% of patients in one clinic study reported it.
  • More severe neck symptoms went with a longer concussion recovery in that study, so the neck deserves its own exam.
  • A cervicogenic headache, neck stiffness and some dizziness can come partly from the neck and may respond to neck rehabilitation.
  • Someone who can’t stay awake, has a seizure or has new weakness after a head injury needs 911 or the emergency room.
  • Concussion neck rehab in Reston starts after your physician has assessed the head injury.
  • Your physician, not our team, decides when you can return to sport, school or work.
  • Our Herndon team plans care in three phases: Relief Care, Corrective Care and Wellness Care.

Find Lasting Relief From Post-Concussion Neck Pain

If you live near Lake Anne, you can get post-concussion neck rehabilitation at RxWellness Spine & Health Herndon, coordinated with your physician. Concussion neck rehab in Reston targets the neck joints, muscles and position sense that can keep a cervicogenic headache or dizziness going. Relief comes first, but it’s only the start. Rebuilding neck strength and steady habits can help you stay active for many healthy years.

RxWellness Spine & Health Herndon Online Reservations

950 Herndon Parkway, Suite 130, Herndon, VA 20170

(703) 686-5663

RxWellness Spine & Health serves patients throughout Herndon and surrounding communities such as Reston, Floris, Franklin Farm, Worldgate, and Sugarland Run who want gentle, physician-coordinated care for neck pain and headaches after a concussion.