CONCUSSION neuro chiropractor in melbourne
A concussion is a
brain injury.
One that affects far more than the point of impact.
When the brain moves rapidly inside the skull, the neurological effects can ripple through your entire nervous system, changing how you see, think, feel, balance and regulate energy. Scans often come back clear because the injury is neurological rather than structural, and standard imaging is designed to detect physical damage, not disruption to how the brain is functioning.
This is why symptoms can persist long after the initial injury. The brain has been disrupted and without targeted neurological rehabilitation, it continues to adapt around the dysfunction rather than resolving it.
My
Brain First Approach focuses on restoring how the brain processes and integrates information so that recovery can progress fully, safely and as completely as possible.
what causes a CONCUSSION
A concussion does not require a direct blow to the head. Any force that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull can result in a concussion. The injury is neurological, not structural, which is why standard imaging often comes back clear even when symptoms are severe. Only 1 in 10 concussion have a loss of consciousness, or 'knockout'.
Concussion - Common causes
- Sports collision or impact
- Motor vehicle accident
- A Fall
- Head impact
- Direct blow to the head
- Whiplash from sudden deceleration
- Workplace or industrial accident
- Physical assault
- Explosive blast
- Pressure wave
CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS
Immediate and Early symptoms
- Headache or pressure in the head
- Dizziness and balance problems
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and noise
- Feeling slowed down or foggy
- Blurred or double vision
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
Persistent and post concussion symptoms
- Ongoing headaches that do not resolve
- Chronic brain fog and poor concentration
- Fatigue that does not respond to rest
- Sleep disruption and insomnia
- Anxiety, irritability and emotional dysregulation
- Dizziness and balance problems returning
- Visual problems and light sensitivity
- Difficulty returning to work or sport
Why symptoms persist
- Neurological pathways disrupted and not rehabilitated
- Vestibular system damage not identified or treated
- Upper cervical spine injury missed alongside the concussion
- Brain adapting to dysfunction rather than resolving it
- Return to activity before neurological recovery was complete
- Multiple concussions with cumulative neurological impact
- Standard imaging normal so no further investigation was done
- No targeted neurological rehabilitation received
WHAT TO EXPECT
How your sessions work — from first appointment
to lasting results
No GP referral required. Private health rebates available for all health funds.
FIRST APPOINTMENT | 60-90 MIN
Entails a comprehensive neurological, autonomic and balance assessment which involves testing your vestibular function, upper cervical mechanics, brainstem input, orthostatic response and more. Following this session you'll leave with a clear diagnosis and a personalised plan.
- Full neurological and autonomic assessment
- Vestibular, ocular and balance analysis
- Upper cervical and postural assessment
- Clear diagnosis and treatment plan
- Hands on treatment and laser same day
REVIEW & TREATMENT | 30-45 MIN
Here your treatment continues with hands-on Chiropractic care, Functional Neurology rehabilitation and Medical Laser Therapy, targeted to your specific neurological findings. Each session is built around what your assessment revealed and how you are responding.
- Hands on chiropractic care
- Functional neurology rehabilitation
- Medical Laser Therapy
- Take home exercises provided
- Plan evolves as you improve
PROGRESSIVE RECOVERY | 30 MIN
As your nervous system begins to respond and regulation improves, your symptoms start to settle. At this point we have a clear picture of how your body is adapting, and your care plan will be adjusted to reflect your progress and support your ongoing health goals.
- Minimum 6 sessions for lasting results
- Collaboration with your medical team
- Written summaries provided as needed
- Referrals arranged as needed
- Honest progress reviews throughout
Why I get results treating CONCUSSIONS, when other approaches have not
A concussion disrupts the neurological pathways your brain relies on to process and integrate information accurately. Recovery requires more than rest and time. It requires targeted rehabilitation that identifies exactly where the disruption has occurred and actively retrains those pathways — your vestibular function, your visual processing, your upper cervical spine, your brainstem integration and how all of these systems are communicating with each other.
Your care combines four things that work together. Functional Neurology Rehabilitation retrains how your brain processes and integrates information across the affected pathways, building accurate neurological communication where the concussion has caused a breakdown. Medical Laser Therapy reduces neurological inflammation and supports tissue recovery at a cellular level, accelerating healing in the structures most affected by the injury. Chiropractic care restores the mechanical input your nervous system needs, particularly from the upper cervical spine which is almost always disrupted in concussion and sends critical signals directly to the brainstem. And between sessions, a personalised programme of rehabilitation exercises and neurological drills keeps your brain progressing on your own time, maintaining momentum and building the capacity for lasting recovery.
Each element builds on the last. As your brain starts to process and integrate information accurately again, your symptoms settle, your function returns and the improvement holds.
Heal faster & better with Medical LASER Therapy that supports tissue repair, reduces inflammation, & pain, & speeds up recovery.
FAQ CONCUSION AND NEURO CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Are you the right person to help with concussion?
Concussion and post concussion syndrome are among the core conditions I see. My functional neurology training gives me the tools to assess exactly where the concussion has disrupted normal brain function and treat it directly. If you are still not right weeks, months or years after a concussion, I want to hear what has been happening. Call me before you book if you are unsure.
My scans came back clear. Does that mean I am fine?
No. A concussion is a functional injury, not a structural one. Standard imaging rules out bleeding, fractures and major swelling. It does not assess how your brain is processing information, how your vestibular system is functioning, or how your neurological pathways are integrating. A clear scan with ongoing symptoms means the right assessment has not been done yet.
Is this chiropractic approach suitable if I feel easily overwhelmed or fatigued?
Yes. Care is carefully paced and adapted to individual tolerance. Sessions are designed to support regulation without pushing the system into overload or symptom flares.
It has been months since my concussion. Is it too late to get better?
No. Post concussion syndrome responds well to targeted neurological rehabilitation regardless of how long symptoms have been present. The brain retains the ability to form new neurological pathways at any stage. The key is identifying exactly what was disrupted and retraining it directly. That is what I assess for and treat.
Can I still have concussion symptoms years after an accident, fall, infection or an assult?
Yes. This is more common than most people realise. A significant head impact, a severe inner ear infection or a fall that jars the upper cervical spine can all disrupt vestibular and neurological function in ways that do not resolve on their own. If the disruption was never properly identified and rehabilitated, the brain adapts to the dysfunction and symptoms become the new normal. Years later those same symptoms — dizziness, brain fog, headaches, balance problems — are still present because the underlying neurological dysfunction was never treated. It is not too late to address it.
Do I need to stop exercising or weight training after a concussion?
Not necessarily. Complete rest is only recommended in the first 24 to 48 hours after injury. After that, carefully graded activity is actually an important part of recovery. The key is matching the type and intensity of exercise to what your nervous system can tolerate at each stage. Pushing too hard too soon can worsen symptoms and delay recovery. I guide this process throughout your care so your activity levels progress safely alongside your neurological rehabilitation.
How long does it take for a concussion to improve?
This varies significantly between people. Some experience full recovery within a few weeks. Others, particularly those with post concussion syndrome or a history of multiple concussions, require longer and more structured neurological rehabilitation. In my experience, a minimum of 6 sessions is needed to achieve meaningful and lasting change. I will give you an honest timeline at your first appointment based on your specific neurological findings.
Is a concussion a mild traumatic brain injury?
Yes. A concussion is classified as a mild traumatic brain injury. The word mild refers to the level of structural damage, not the severity of symptoms. Many people with a mild traumatic brain injury experience symptoms that are far from mild and that significantly disrupt their ability to work, exercise, concentrate and function in daily life. The mild classification can also create a false impression that the injury will resolve on its own with rest. For many people it does. But for a significant number it does not and without targeted neurological rehabilitation, the brain adapts to the dysfunction rather than recovering from it. That is when a mild traumatic brain injury becomes a long term problem.
Can I have concussion symptoms after a ear infection ?
Concussion symptoms following an inner ear infection often include persistent vertigo, dizziness, balance issues, tinnitus, and hearing loss, reflecting damage to the inner ear's vestibular system. These can be compounded by "brain fog" headaches, nausea, anxiety, and light/sound sensitivity. Specialized vestibular rehabilitation helps recovery
Can Neuro Rehab support brain fog or chronic fatigue after a concussion?
Yes. Brain fog and fatigue after concussion are neurological symptoms, not signs of laziness or deconditioning. They occur because the brain is working harder than normal to compensate for disrupted processing pathways. Targeted functional neurology rehabilitation reduces that neurological load by restoring accurate processing, which is why brain fog and fatigue often improve significantly as treatment progresses.
Do I need a formal concussion diagnosis to start care?
No. Many people who come to see me have never received a formal diagnosis despite having a clear history of head impact and ongoing symptoms. If your symptoms are consistent with concussion or post concussion syndrome, a neurological assessment is the right starting point regardless of whether a diagnosis has been made.
Can I claim back on private health?
Yes, chiropractic care is covered by most extras policies including Medibank, BUPA, HCF, NIB and AHM. I process health fund claims on the spot. Rebate amounts vary by policy — worth checking with your fund before booking.
If you are still not yourself after a concussion, this is the assessment you have been waiting for.
The longer neurological disruption goes unaddressed, the more the brain adapts around it. A Functional Neurology assessment identifies exactly what is still firing incorrectly and builds a targeted rehabilitation plan around those findings.
No GP referral required. Private health rebates available.
